NBA MVP Prediction and Historical Analysis Using Cross-Era Comparison Approaches

Abstract

In order to understand the crucial player statistics that decide the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Trophy, this research study dives into a substantial 32-year dataset of the National Basketball Association (NBA). We build a predictive framework trained on historical player statistics and MVP voting results using a sophisticated ensemble of machine learning models, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), ElasticNet, AdaBoost, Random Forest and Back-propagation Neural Network (BP). We determine the key elements influencing this renowned award by evaluating connections between player stats and MVP picks. Our research provides insights into the MVP selection process by utilising the models' ability to capture complex patterns and nonlinear interactions, providing stakeholders with a reliable tool for assessing player performances.This work advances the discourse surrounding the NBA MVP Trophy and enriches our comprehension of player value assessment. Also, the prediction models are used to conduct various historical analysis experiments, by finding an objective method to compare performances of players from different eras. © 2024 IEEE.