Lev Akabas
@levakabas.bsky.social
NBA 🏀 & sports business 💵 data viz 📊 for Sportico
All opinions are my own
All opinions are my own
The 2020 Los Angeles Lakers dunked A LOT
November 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The 2020 Los Angeles Lakers dunked A LOT
Offensive efficiency almost always goes up over the course of an NBA season
The average offense this season is already at 115.5 points per 100 possessions 🔥
The average offense this season is already at 115.5 points per 100 possessions 🔥
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Offensive efficiency almost always goes up over the course of an NBA season
The average offense this season is already at 115.5 points per 100 possessions 🔥
The average offense this season is already at 115.5 points per 100 possessions 🔥
Matisse Thybulle is the undisputed GOAT of blocking 3-pointers
Did not expect to see Tyrese Haliburton up there
Did not expect to see Tyrese Haliburton up there
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Matisse Thybulle is the undisputed GOAT of blocking 3-pointers
Did not expect to see Tyrese Haliburton up there
Did not expect to see Tyrese Haliburton up there
The NBA's salary cap has ballooned in the past 10 years from $70 million in 2015-16 to $155 million in 2025-26
It will continue to rise over the next decade due to the increase in revenue from the new TV deals
It will continue to rise over the next decade due to the increase in revenue from the new TV deals
November 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The NBA's salary cap has ballooned in the past 10 years from $70 million in 2015-16 to $155 million in 2025-26
It will continue to rise over the next decade due to the increase in revenue from the new TV deals
It will continue to rise over the next decade due to the increase in revenue from the new TV deals
LeBron James is on track to earn $132.6 million this season from salary and endorsements combined
Full top 10 👇
Full top 10 👇
November 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
LeBron James is on track to earn $132.6 million this season from salary and endorsements combined
Full top 10 👇
Full top 10 👇
Run clubs have exploded in popularity post-COVID
November 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Run clubs have exploded in popularity post-COVID
Reposted by Lev Akabas
20somethings are the rocket fuel of the NYC Marathon's growth in finishers.
"In total, 86% more men and 91% more women aged 18-29 finished the 2025 race compared to a decade ago in 2015."
@levakabas.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/othe...
"In total, 86% more men and 91% more women aged 18-29 finished the 2025 race compared to a decade ago in 2015."
@levakabas.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/othe...
November 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
20somethings are the rocket fuel of the NYC Marathon's growth in finishers.
"In total, 86% more men and 91% more women aged 18-29 finished the 2025 race compared to a decade ago in 2015."
@levakabas.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/othe...
"In total, 86% more men and 91% more women aged 18-29 finished the 2025 race compared to a decade ago in 2015."
@levakabas.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/othe...
Young voters swung the New York City mayoral election for Zohran Mamdani
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Young voters swung the New York City mayoral election for Zohran Mamdani
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry will become just the 8th and 9th athletes to ever earn $1 billion in combined salary and endorsements while still active
(Michael Jordan hit $1 billion after his retirement)
(Michael Jordan hit $1 billion after his retirement)
November 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry will become just the 8th and 9th athletes to ever earn $1 billion in combined salary and endorsements while still active
(Michael Jordan hit $1 billion after his retirement)
(Michael Jordan hit $1 billion after his retirement)
LeBron James will be the highest-paid player in the NBA for the 12th time in his career
He'll earn an estimated $80 million off the court this season in addition to $52.6 million in salary
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzpE9
He'll earn an estimated $80 million off the court this season in addition to $52.6 million in salary
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzpE9
November 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
LeBron James will be the highest-paid player in the NBA for the 12th time in his career
He'll earn an estimated $80 million off the court this season in addition to $52.6 million in salary
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzpE9
He'll earn an estimated $80 million off the court this season in addition to $52.6 million in salary
Read more: wp.me/pc2RuA-1lzpE9
It appears that the NBA severely underestimated the Wembanyama hype
10 other teams got more national TV / streaming games than the San Antonio Spurs this season (the league just flexed a Spurs game into primetime)
10 other teams got more national TV / streaming games than the San Antonio Spurs this season (the league just flexed a Spurs game into primetime)
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
It appears that the NBA severely underestimated the Wembanyama hype
10 other teams got more national TV / streaming games than the San Antonio Spurs this season (the league just flexed a Spurs game into primetime)
10 other teams got more national TV / streaming games than the San Antonio Spurs this season (the league just flexed a Spurs game into primetime)
The percentage NYC Marathon runners who are women has steadily grown over the past 50 years
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The percentage NYC Marathon runners who are women has steadily grown over the past 50 years
Billy Donovan is the NBA's third longest-tenured head coaches
Spo and Kerr are the only two coaches remaining from before the pandemic
Spo and Kerr are the only two coaches remaining from before the pandemic
November 4, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Billy Donovan is the NBA's third longest-tenured head coaches
Spo and Kerr are the only two coaches remaining from before the pandemic
Spo and Kerr are the only two coaches remaining from before the pandemic
Ja Morant hasn't played in 10 straight games since January 5th, 2023
LeBron - 4/11/25
Kawhi - 2/23/25
Davis - 12/31/24
LaMelo - 11/27/24
Kyrie - 11/12/24
Zion - 4/3/24
Embiid - 11/21/23
Morant - 1/5/23
LeBron - 4/11/25
Kawhi - 2/23/25
Davis - 12/31/24
LaMelo - 11/27/24
Kyrie - 11/12/24
Zion - 4/3/24
Embiid - 11/21/23
Morant - 1/5/23
November 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Ja Morant hasn't played in 10 straight games since January 5th, 2023
LeBron - 4/11/25
Kawhi - 2/23/25
Davis - 12/31/24
LaMelo - 11/27/24
Kyrie - 11/12/24
Zion - 4/3/24
Embiid - 11/21/23
Morant - 1/5/23
LeBron - 4/11/25
Kawhi - 2/23/25
Davis - 12/31/24
LaMelo - 11/27/24
Kyrie - 11/12/24
Zion - 4/3/24
Embiid - 11/21/23
Morant - 1/5/23
Reposted by Lev Akabas
Made a table to illustrate this for last night’s post on Bounces:
November 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Made a table to illustrate this for last night’s post on Bounces:
NBA pace this season has been faster than any season since the 1980s
November 3, 2025 at 6:18 PM
NBA pace this season has been faster than any season since the 1980s
The Houston Rockets are rebounding 42% of their own missed shots so far this season
The highest rate by any NBA team in the past decade is 35%
The highest rate by any NBA team in the past decade is 35%
November 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The Houston Rockets are rebounding 42% of their own missed shots so far this season
The highest rate by any NBA team in the past decade is 35%
The highest rate by any NBA team in the past decade is 35%
The Dodgers won back to back World Series with the No. 1 payroll in MLB both years
The team that wins it all usually has a top 10 payroll, and even teams that make the AL Championship Series or the NL Championship Series typically have top 10 payrolls
The team that wins it all usually has a top 10 payroll, and even teams that make the AL Championship Series or the NL Championship Series typically have top 10 payrolls
November 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Dodgers won back to back World Series with the No. 1 payroll in MLB both years
The team that wins it all usually has a top 10 payroll, and even teams that make the AL Championship Series or the NL Championship Series typically have top 10 payrolls
The team that wins it all usually has a top 10 payroll, and even teams that make the AL Championship Series or the NL Championship Series typically have top 10 payrolls
In 2024, the highest-ranked MLB game on the top 100 most-watched TV broadcasts of the year was Game 5 of the World Series (18.2 million viewers)
According to preliminary Nielsen data, Game 7 of the 2025 World Series averaged nearly 26 million
According to preliminary Nielsen data, Game 7 of the 2025 World Series averaged nearly 26 million
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
In 2024, the highest-ranked MLB game on the top 100 most-watched TV broadcasts of the year was Game 5 of the World Series (18.2 million viewers)
According to preliminary Nielsen data, Game 7 of the 2025 World Series averaged nearly 26 million
According to preliminary Nielsen data, Game 7 of the 2025 World Series averaged nearly 26 million
Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford are all thriving with contracts in the "mid tier" for NFL quarterbacks
There are only seven QB salaries that are more than the rookie scale but less than 15% of the cap, per @spotrac.com
There are only seven QB salaries that are more than the rookie scale but less than 15% of the cap, per @spotrac.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford are all thriving with contracts in the "mid tier" for NFL quarterbacks
There are only seven QB salaries that are more than the rookie scale but less than 15% of the cap, per @spotrac.com
There are only seven QB salaries that are more than the rookie scale but less than 15% of the cap, per @spotrac.com
Barry Bonds was a joke
October 31, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Barry Bonds was a joke
The Los Angeles Lakers sale for $10 billion is approved
@sportico.bsky.social ranks them as the 5th most valuable sports franchise in the world
@sportico.bsky.social ranks them as the 5th most valuable sports franchise in the world
October 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The Los Angeles Lakers sale for $10 billion is approved
@sportico.bsky.social ranks them as the 5th most valuable sports franchise in the world
@sportico.bsky.social ranks them as the 5th most valuable sports franchise in the world
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina surpassed $10 million in career prize money yesterday 🎾💵
He has still never won a title ❌🏆
He has still never won a title ❌🏆
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina surpassed $10 million in career prize money yesterday 🎾💵
He has still never won a title ❌🏆
He has still never won a title ❌🏆
The Detroit Pistons dunked a LOT last year
The Chicago Bulls... not so much
The Chicago Bulls... not so much
October 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Detroit Pistons dunked a LOT last year
The Chicago Bulls... not so much
The Chicago Bulls... not so much
Interesting data from @kevinoconnornba.bsky.social via @yahoosports.bsky.social... NBA teams are using full court press way more often this season
Some teams, like the Portland Trail Blazers, are taking the strategy to the extreme
Some teams, like the Portland Trail Blazers, are taking the strategy to the extreme
October 30, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Interesting data from @kevinoconnornba.bsky.social via @yahoosports.bsky.social... NBA teams are using full court press way more often this season
Some teams, like the Portland Trail Blazers, are taking the strategy to the extreme
Some teams, like the Portland Trail Blazers, are taking the strategy to the extreme