Vietnamese Basketball Lacks a Common Data Language: An Insider's Perspective Analysis

On the desk of a basketball club financial analyst, there is an uncomfortable truth no one wants to acknowledge: we are writing about a sport where most basic data has not been systematically collected. This is not a story about lacking technology or personnel. This is a story about an industry in its foundation-building phase, and how we define 'analysis' today will determine the scale of Vietnamese basketball in the next ten years.

Three years ago, when I began closely monitoring Vietnam's basketball league system, one number made me pause: only 12% of domestic league games had complete performance metrics recorded according to international standards. This percentage did not come from any official report, but from my own process of building a database by rewatching footage and manually cross-referencing. This was work that an individual could do, but should have been the responsibility of the entire system.

Context is changing, but not fast enough

In 2026, the Vietnam Basketball Federation (VBF) began implementing electronic statistics systems at some high-level tournaments. This is a step in the right direction, but in my observation, significant gaps remain. Metrics like True Shooting Percentage (TSP), Usage Rate (USG%), and Win Shares (WS) are still not widely calculated and published. Meanwhile, leagues in China or South Korea have been using these metrics for over a decade to evaluate players and develop strategies.

This shortfall creates a vicious cycle. Without standard data, investors and sponsors have no basis for valuing players and clubs. Without transparent valuations, capital does not flow in. Without investment capital, clubs lack budgets to collect and analyze data. This cycle has hindered Vietnamese basketball's development for years, and I do not think we can break it overnight.

However, it is worth noting that some private clubs have begun building internal analytics systems. My information indicates at least three teams in the VBA league have hired data analysis specialists in the past two seasons. This is a positive signal, but it also raises questions about the disparity between resource-rich clubs and those struggling with tight budgets.

Tactical analysis: When numbers meet court reality

In modern basketball, data analysis extends beyond simply counting points, rebounds, and assists. Advanced metrics like Points Per Possession (PPP), Defensive Rating (DRtg), and Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) provide a more comprehensive picture of a player's and team's performance. But to obtain these numbers, dedicated tracking systems and qualified personnel to process them are needed.

I have followed several matches in the national championship and identified a critical issue: many coaches still make tactical decisions based on experience and intuition rather than data. This does not mean experience is unimportant, but in an era when top world teams use machine learning to optimize tactics, Vietnamese basketball remains in the 'counting by hand' phase.

A typical case is the use of import players. Vietnamese clubs typically evaluate import players based on scoring average and international playing experience, but rarely consider metrics like Net Rating (point differential when the player is on court versus off) or On/Off Court Impact (the player's effect on team performance). The result is many high-salary foreign signings who do not fit the team's overall playing style.

Contrarian view: Why low data can be an advantage

This is where many will say I am digressing, but let me explain. In sports business, there is a principle I have applied over seven years in the Vietnamese market: when a market lacks information, those capable of collecting and analyzing data will have a greater competitive advantage compared to saturated markets.

In other words, Vietnamese basketball's lack of a complete data system is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for those willing to invest in this field. A club can build sustainable competitive advantage by developing internal analytics systems now, rather than waiting for standardized solutions from the federation level.

However, this requires a mindset shift. Many investors still view basketball as a brand accessory, rather than a business requiring professional operation. They want immediate results, but data analysis is a long-term process. At least two to three seasons are needed to build a database large enough and accurate enough to make reliable decisions.

The humans behind every decision

I have written about data and numbers throughout my career, but I always remind myself that behind every number are specific people. There are young coaches trying to learn and apply modern analytics to their teams but lacking budget and tools. There are players with potential who are not discovered early due to the absence of data-based scouting systems. There are small clubs struggling to survive, without analytics departments, without statistics experts.

Summer 2026, when I worked at a basketball club in central Vietnam, I witnessed a situation that still makes me think. This team had a young player with impressive physical metrics, but the coaching staff did not know how to properly develop him. There was no data on strengths and weaknesses, no detailed video analysis, only subjective assessments based on training observations. The result was this player did not develop as expected and eventually switched to another sport.

That is one reason I believe building data systems is not only a business issue but also a responsibility to those dedicating themselves to this sport.

The path forward

So what can we do? From the perspective of an analyst who has worked in the industry for over two decades, I propose three basic steps. First, clubs need to start collecting basic data from the youth and amateur levels, not just in professional leagues. Second, a generation of Vietnamese basketball analytics professionals needs to be trained, possibly through cooperation programs with universities or international sports organizations. Third, the federation needs to establish unified statistical standards so data can be compared across leagues and seasons.

Vietnamese basketball stands at a crossroads. We can continue operating traditionally, relying on experience and intuition, or step into the data analysis era. The second choice is not easy, but it is the only path to competitiveness at the regional and international levels.

The 12% figure I mentioned at the beginning is not a verdict. It is a starting point. And a starting point only matters when we begin moving.