Blog Posts – Vanna Bushong

# LeBron Assists Charts

Contributed assists chart animations for this YouTube video at 0:47, 3:00, and 6:00. Used shot location data to plot assists as dimes and animated using physics simulations in the Unreal Engine.

# Michael Jordan Charts

Developed and animated shot charts using historical shot location data and the Unreal Engine.

> Michael Jordan’s 1,124 buckets from the 97-98 season and postseason. pic.twitter.com/5Bq5NULjJV

> — Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 19, 2020

Contributed the shot chart animation at 6:29 in this YouTube video:

# Best & Worst Shooters

Contributed over 70 player animations to ESPN’s Best & Worst Shooters series on YouTube, built with the Unreal Engine.

Best & Worst 2020:

Best & Worst 2010s:

Best & Worst 2000s:

# Rockets 3-PT Animation

Plotted and animated 3-point shot location data for a pregame element.

# Ben Simmons Shot Chart

Plotted and animated shot location data using the Unreal Engine.

> The Ben Simmons Paradox
> 2 career made 3s
> 782 career assisted 3s
> (most in NBA since his debut) pic.twitter.com/kF6xWYSts1

> — Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) February 23, 2020

# Kobe Career Shot Chart

Animated shot location data from Kobe Bryant’s career, regular season and postseason. Developed using the Unreal Engine.

> A look at every bucket of Kobe’s career lit up as No. 24.

> (via @kirkgoldsberry) pic.twitter.com/u2MwcRIrC1

> — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2020

Also featured on NBA Countdown:

# LeBron Career Shot Chart

Developed a method for plotting shot location data in a 3D environment using C++ and the Unreal Engine.

> LeBron is 18 points away from passing Kobe for 3rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. @kirkgoldsberry tracked all 12,254 of @KingJames‘ career made field goals from 2003 to now 🤯 pic.twitter.com/z0LpPQecXh

> — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2020

# PTI Rundown

Developed script for the PTI rundown and clock functionality in the show’s 2020 graphics package.

# NBA 3D Shot Charts

Developed a web app to feed shot coordinates and spline points into this graphic for in-game shot charts.

# NBA Shot Tracking

Worked with NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry to map actual flight path data of James Harden’s 3-point shots in a 3D environment. Developed a method to generate splines in the Unreal Engine using C++.

# MLB Virtual Pitch

Developed a web app to feed pitch data into a VizRT scene, along with a script to parse it and generate splines visualizing each path. Used to create several virtual graphics airing on Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter around the 2019 World Series.

# MLB Win Probabilities

Wrote a script to build a line graph using MLB Statcast data points, representing win probability of each team throughout the game. The graphic aired during the 2019 AL Wild Card Game Statcast broadcast.

# LeBron Career Shot Chart

# PTI Rundown

# Home Run Derby

© 2026 Vanna Bushong