<ul><li>Using data and Machine Learning, it is possible to predict the NBA Champion at the end of the regular season.</li><li>The approach reframes the problem as a regression task, predicting the Champion Share of each team.</li><li>Data from 1984 to 2024 seasons were used to train the model with a focus on relative metrics and team/player statistics.</li><li>Champions tend to come from top seeds with higher winning percentages and slightly higher average age.</li><li>The model used was LightGBM, achieving an RMSE of 0.184 and an R² score of 0.537 on the test dataset.</li><li>Important features influencing the model's predictions include seed, win percentage rank, and team-level statistics.</li><li>The model correctly predicted two of the last three NBA champions and favors the Boston Celtics for the 2025 playoffs.</li><li>Injuries remain a challenge for prediction models, impacting playoff outcomes significantly.</li><li>While no model is perfect, data-driven approaches can provide valuable insights into playoff success in basketball.</li><li>The analysis shows the potential of machine learning in predicting sports outcomes while acknowledging the unpredictability of sports.</li></ul>

Predicting the NBA Champion with Machine Learning

Discover more