APBRmetrics

Comparing 2000-01, 2009-10 and 2014-15 data for guys who played at least 800 minutes, there was about a 10% increase in the number of players with more than 18% usage between the first and second period, then stable at around 190. The numbers are similar for 20 plus % usage but the number of players over 24% usage increased by about 15% between first and second periods and then by another 15% between second and third. With exploding pay and perhaps especially for scorers (somebody want to check that in detail?), will we see even more players over 24% usage and the lower thresholds? Seems like a decent chance we will, unless the top usage guys are forceful enough to keep it for themselves.

The last expansion in Charlotte would account for about a 3% increase in the numbers. The per team expansions get chopped a bit.

On average right now teams tend to have about 2 guys over 24% usage. Back in 2000-2001 it was a bit over 1.5.

A little over 6 per team over 18% usage.

For the last 5 champs, the average is 2.8 over 24% usage in regular season and just 4.6 over 18%.
So the champs are more concentrated at the top than average teams and less concentrated at the moderate 18% level.

Only 3 (almost 4) teams including Warriors had 3 qualifiers over 24% usage last season. More teams may this season. By explicit intent or not.

Playoff data should be looked at too.

Warriors top 6 most used lineups all had at least 2 of their 3 high usage guys. 2 of the top4 had all 3 (Speights being the less obvious one). 95% of their top 20 most used lineups had at least one.