Refinement Culture (PT 1)

There has been a subtle shift in the last 20 years in a some aspects of life. It has to do with refinement of things, games, products and aesthetics. It’s hard to describe exactly WHAT Refinement Culture really means. It’s easier for me to show you some of these changes you may or may not have noticed. And through the examples, a definition will be fleshed out.

Let’s start with professional sports. I think you can clearly see some of the symptoms of refinement culture there. Then we can move on to other areas.

If you look at the graphic above you will see how the game of professional basketball has changed over the last twenty years. You can probably notice it if you’ve been watching for a long time. Gone is the mid-range jumper that players like Michael Jordan and Karl Malone built their careers on. Now the game has shifted to 3-point shooters and players who drive to the basket for close shots. How did this happen? Almost every team now has an NBA analytics department in the front office. Data is collected using cameras that record every movement of both the ball and all 10 players 25 times per second. Data analytics has brought an explosion in attempts for three-point shots. In 2012, teams averaged about 18 three-point attempts per game. In 2017, that number reached 27.

Why? It’s really just common sense and math, backed up by data. Essentially, data showed that the reward of taking a three-point shot outweighed the risk. On average, teams that take more three-point shots ultimately score more points over the course of a game. The Golden State Warriors, who won a ton of championships the past few years are a perfect example of this philosophy. Other teams have followed.

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