NBAPlayDB Filters: What They Are and How to Use Them

Finding the exact NBA play you want can feel overwhelming. NBAPlayDB has thousands of clips from every game. Filters help you narrow down results to find exactly what you need in seconds. This guide explains every filter available on NBAPlayDB. You will learn what each filter does and when to use it.

Ready to start? Go to the search page and follow along as you read.

Search Bar

The search bar at the top of the page lets you quickly find plays using keywords.

Search Keywords

Type any keyword to search across all play descriptions. You can search for player names, team names, play types, or any text that appears in the play description.

When to use:You want a quick search without setting up multiple filters. Or you want to combine a text search with filters for more precise results.

Example:Type "dunk" to find all dunks, or "LeBron James dunk" for a more specific search.

You can combine search keywords with any filter. For example, search for "step back" while filtering by Action Type "3PT" and Action Player "James Harden" to find all of Harden's step-back three-pointers.

Game Information Filters

These filters help you find plays from specific games, seasons, or time periods.

Season

Select which NBA season to search. You can pick one season or multiple seasons at once.

When to use:You want to compare a player's performance across different years. Or you only care about the current season.

Example:Select "2023-24" to see only plays from that season.

Season Segment

Filter by regular season or playoffs.

When to use:Playoff performances differ from regular season. Use this to focus on high-stakes games.

Example:Select "Playoffs" to find clutch moments from postseason games.

Game Date

Pick a date range to search within. You can set a start date, end date, or both.

When to use:You remember roughly when a play happened. Or you want plays from a specific week or month.

Example:Set the range to January 2024 to find plays from that month only.

Last N Games

Filter plays from a player's most recent games. Choose from 3, 5, 10, 15, or 20 games. Requires a player to be selected in the Action Player or Involved Player filter first.

When to use:You want to focus on a player's recent form instead of an entire season. Or you want to build a highlight reel from a specific stretch of games.

Example:Select "5" with Involved Player set to "Kevin Durant" to see all plays from his last 5 games.

Period

Filter by quarter or overtime period. Options include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarter, and overtime periods.

When to use:You want fourth-quarter plays only. Or you are looking for overtime heroics.

Example:Select "4th Quarter" to find late-game plays.

Clock Time

A range slider that filters by the remaining time on the game clock within a quarter. Values range from 0:00 (end of quarter) to 12:00 (start of quarter).

When to use:You want plays from a specific moment in the quarter, like the final two minutes or the opening minutes.

Example:Set the range to 0:00-2:00 to find plays from the last two minutes of any quarter.

Action Team

Select the team making the play. This filters by the team performing the action, not receiving it.

When to use:You want all plays by a specific team.

Example:Select "Los Angeles Lakers" to see every Lakers play.

Opposition Team

Select the team on defense or receiving the action.

When to use:You want to see how a team performs against a specific opponent.

Example:Select "Boston Celtics" as opposition to find plays against the Celtics.

Player Filters

These filters help you find plays involving specific players.

Action Player

The player performing the main action. This includes the shooter, blocker, player who committed a turnover, steal owner, and more.

When to use:You want all plays where a specific player is the primary actor.

Example:Select "LeBron James" to find every play where LeBron takes action.

Involved Player

Any player involved in the play as a secondary participant. This includes players who got fouled, got blocked, or assisted the basket.

When to use:You want any play featuring a specific player, regardless of their role.

Example:Select "Stephen Curry" to find plays where Curry appears in any capacity.

Is Assisted

Filter shots by whether they were assisted or not.

When to use:You want to analyze assisted versus unassisted scoring.

Example:Select "Yes" to find only assisted baskets.

Assisted By

The player who made the assist on a scoring play.

When to use:You want to see all assists by a specific playmaker.

Example:Select "Nikola Jokic" to find every basket he assisted.

Fouled To

The player who drew the foul.

When to use:You want to see how often a player gets fouled.

Example:Select "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander" to find plays where he drew fouls.

Play Type Filters

These filters help you find specific types of basketball actions.

Action Type

The category of play. Options include 2PT, 3PT, Free Throw, Rebound, Foul, Turnover, Steal, Block, Jump Ball, Violation, and Ejection.

When to use:You only want a specific type of play, like three-pointers or blocks.

Example:Select "3PT" to find only three-point attempts.

Subtype

A more specific breakdown of the action type. This gives you finer control over play selection.

When to use:You want a very specific play type, like hook shots or fadeaways.

Example:Select "Driving Layup" under the shot subtype options.

Qualifiers

Special tags that describe the play. These include "fast break," "second chance," "from turnover," and more.

When to use:You want plays with specific characteristics.

Example:Select "Fast Break" to find transition plays only.

Shot Result

Filter shots by made or missed.

When to use:You only want successful baskets. Or you want to analyze missed shots.

Example:Select "Made" to see only successful field goals.

Location Filters

These filters help you find plays based on where they happened on the court.

Area

The zone on the court where the play occurred. Options include paint, mid-range, three-point line, and specific court sections.

When to use:You want plays from a specific part of the court.

Example:Select "Restricted Area" to find plays at the rim.

Shot Distance

A range slider that filters by how far the shot was from the basket. Distance is measured in feet, from 0 to 94.

When to use:You want shots from a specific distance range.

Example:Set the range to 23-30 feet to find deep three-pointers.

Situation Filters

These filters help you find plays from specific game situations.

Is After Timeout

Filter plays that happened immediately after a timeout.

When to use:You want to analyze set plays or after-timeout execution.

Example:Select "Yes" to find plays run out of timeouts.

Is Buzzer Beater

Filter plays that beat the clock at the end of a quarter or game.

When to use:You want dramatic, clock-beating moments.

Example:Select "Yes" to find all buzzer beaters.

Matchup Filters

The Matchups tab lets you analyze specific player-versus-player situations.

Defensive Player

Select a defender to see plays where they guarded someone.

When to use:You want to evaluate a player's defensive performance.

Example:Select "Rudy Gobert" to see all possessions he defended.

Offensive Player

Select an offensive player to see plays where they were guarded.

When to use:You want to see how an offensive player performed against specific defenders.

Example:Select "Luka Doncic" to see his plays against various defenders.

Matchup Type

Toggle between field goal attempts and turnovers caused.

When to use:You want to focus on either shooting or ball security in matchups.

Example:Select "Turnovers" to see forced turnovers in specific matchups.

Lineup Filters

The On/Off Court tab lets you filter by which players were on the floor.

Players On Court

Select up to 5 players who must all be on the court during the play.

When to use:You want plays from a specific lineup combination.

Example:Select your team's starting five to see plays from that lineup.

Players Off Court

Select up to 5 players who must all be off the court during the play.

When to use:You want to see how a team performs without certain players.

Example:Select a team's star player to see plays when they rested.

Common Use Cases

Here are real examples of how to combine filters for specific searches. Try them on the search page.

→Find All Blocks by a Player

Set Action Type to "Block"
Set Action Player to your favorite shot blocker
Optionally filter by Season to see a specific year

→Find Clutch Shots

Set Period to "4th Quarter" or overtime periods
Set Clock Time to 0:00-2:00 for the final two minutes
Set Shot Result to "Made"

→Analyze Defense

Go to the Matchups tab
Select a Defensive Player
Toggle Matchup Type to see field goals defended or turnovers forced
Optionally add a specific Offensive Player to see head-to-head data

→Find Transition Plays

Set Qualifiers to "Fast Break"
Optionally set Action Type to shots only
Set Shot Result to "Made" for successful fast breaks

→Study After-Timeout Plays

Set Is After Timeout to "Yes"
Set Action Team to your team of interest
Set Shot Result to "Made" to see successful execution

Start Searching

Now you know every filter available on NBAPlayDB. Start with broad filters and narrow down from there. The more you experiment, the faster you will find exactly what you need.

Go to the search page and try combining a few filters. You will find the exact play you are looking for.