Align balldontlie OpenAPI integration and clarify search metric semantics

.env.example

@@ -59,14 +59,12 @@ PROVIDER_MVP_DATA_FILE=/app/apps/providers/data/mvp_provider.json
 PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRIES=3
 PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRY_SLEEP=1
 PROVIDER_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS=10
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL=https://api.balldontlie.io/nba/v1
+PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL=https://api.balldontlie.io
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY=
 # NBA-centric MVP provider seasons to ingest (comma-separated years).
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_SEASONS=2024
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PAGE_LIMIT=5
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PER_PAGE=100
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PAGE_LIMIT=5
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PER_PAGE=100
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PAGE_LIMIT=10
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PER_PAGE=100
 # When 0, a 401 on stats endpoint degrades to players/teams-only sync.

README.md

@@ -135,7 +135,11 @@ Notes:
 
 - The server-rendered player search page (`/players/`) and read-only players API (`/api/players/`) use the same search form and ORM filter service.
 - Sorting/filter semantics are aligned across UI, HTMX partial refreshes, and API responses.
-- Statistical metric annotations are always computed for UI result tables, and only computed for API requests when metric-based sorting is requested.
+- Search result metrics in the UI table use **best eligible semantics**:
+  - each metric (Games, MPG, PPG, RPG, APG) is the maximum value across eligible player-season rows
+  - eligibility is scoped by the active season/team/competition/stat filters
+  - different displayed metrics for one player can come from different eligible rows
+- Metric-based API sorting (`ppg_*`, `mpg_*`) uses the same best-eligible semantics as UI search.
 
 ## Docker Volumes and Persistence
 
@@ -325,7 +329,7 @@ Provider backend is selected via environment variables:
 - `PROVIDER_DEFAULT_NAMESPACE` can override backend mapping explicitly
 
 The balldontlie adapter is NBA-centric and intended as MVP ingestion only. The provider abstraction remains ready for future multi-league providers (for example Sportradar or FIBA GDAP).
-The adapter uses balldontlie getting-started query style (`/nba/v1`, cursor pagination, stats by `game_ids[]`).
+The adapter follows the published balldontlie OpenAPI contract: server `https://api.balldontlie.io`, NBA endpoints under `/nba/v1/*`, cursor pagination via `meta.next_cursor`, and `stats` ingestion filtered by `seasons[]`.
 Some balldontlie plans do not include stats endpoints; set `PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_STRICT=0` (default) to ingest players/teams/seasons even when stats are unauthorized.
 
 Provider normalization details and explicit adapter assumptions are documented in [docs/provider-normalization.md](docs/provider-normalization.md).

apps/api/views.py

@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ class ReadOnlyBaseAPIView:
 
 
 class PlayerSearchApiView(ReadOnlyBaseAPIView, generics.ListAPIView):
+    """
+    Read-only player search API.
+
+    Metric sorts (`ppg_*`, `mpg_*`) follow the same best-eligible semantics as UI search:
+    max metric value across eligible player-season rows after applying search filters.
+    """
+
     serializer_class = PlayerListSerializer
     pagination_class = ApiPagination
 

apps/players/forms.py

@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ class PlayerSearchForm(forms.Form):
         ("age_oldest", "Age (Oldest first)"),
         ("height_desc", "Height (Tallest first)"),
         ("height_asc", "Height (Shortest first)"),
-        ("ppg_desc", "Points per game (High to low)"),
+        ("ppg_desc", "Best eligible PPG (High to low)"),
-        ("ppg_asc", "Points per game (Low to high)"),
+        ("ppg_asc", "Best eligible PPG (Low to high)"),
-        ("mpg_desc", "Minutes per game (High to low)"),
+        ("mpg_desc", "Best eligible MPG (High to low)"),
-        ("mpg_asc", "Minutes per game (Low to high)"),
+        ("mpg_asc", "Best eligible MPG (Low to high)"),
     )
 
     PAGE_SIZE_CHOICES = ((20, "20"), (50, "50"), (100, "100"))

apps/players/services/search.py

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ from apps.players.models import Player
 from apps.stats.models import PlayerSeason
 
 METRIC_SORT_KEYS = {"ppg_desc", "ppg_asc", "mpg_desc", "mpg_asc"}
+SEARCH_METRIC_SEMANTICS_TEXT = (
+    "Search metrics are best eligible values per player (max per metric across eligible player-season rows). "
+    "With season/team/competition/stat filters, eligibility is scoped by those filters."
+)
 
 
 def _years_ago_today(years: int) -> date:
@@ -213,6 +217,13 @@ def filter_players(queryset, data: dict):
 
 
 def annotate_player_metrics(queryset, data: dict | None = None):
+    """
+    Annotate player list metrics using best-eligible semantics.
+
+    Each metric is computed as MAX over eligible player-season rows. This is intentionally
+    not a single-row projection; different displayed metrics for one player can come from
+    different eligible player-season rows.
+    """
     data = data or {}
     context_filter = _build_metric_context_filter(data)
 

apps/players/views.py

@@ -8,7 +8,13 @@ from apps.stats.models import PlayerSeason
 
 from .forms import PlayerSearchForm
 from .models import Player, PlayerCareerEntry
-from .services.search import annotate_player_metrics, apply_sorting, base_player_queryset, filter_players
+from .services.search import (
+    SEARCH_METRIC_SEMANTICS_TEXT,
+    annotate_player_metrics,
+    apply_sorting,
+    base_player_queryset,
+    filter_players,
+)
 
 
 def calculate_age(birth_date):
@@ -61,6 +67,7 @@ class PlayerSearchView(ListView):
         search_form = self.get_form()
         context["search_form"] = search_form
         context["search_has_errors"] = search_form.is_bound and bool(search_form.errors)
+        context["search_metric_semantics"] = SEARCH_METRIC_SEMANTICS_TEXT
         context["favorite_player_ids"] = set()
         if self.request.user.is_authenticated:
             player_ids = [player.id for player in context["players"]]

apps/providers/adapters/balldontlie_provider.py

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import logging
-from itertools import islice
 
 from django.conf import settings
 
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
     """HTTP MVP adapter for balldontlie (NBA-centric data source)."""
 
     namespace = "balldontlie"
+    nba_prefix = "/nba/v1"
 
     def __init__(self, client: BalldontlieClient | None = None):
         self.client = client or BalldontlieClient()
@@ -38,46 +38,23 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
     def configured_seasons(self) -> list[int]:
         return settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_SEASONS
 
-    @staticmethod
+    def _api_path(self, path: str) -> str:
-    def _chunked(values: list[int], size: int):
+        # Support both base URL variants:
-        iterator = iter(values)
+        # - https://api.balldontlie.io
-        while True:
+        # - https://api.balldontlie.io/nba/v1
-            chunk = list(islice(iterator, size))
+        base = getattr(self.client, "base_url", "").rstrip("/")
-            if not chunk:
+        if base.endswith("/nba/v1"):
-                return
+            return path.lstrip("/")
-            yield chunk
+        return f"{self.nba_prefix}/{path.lstrip('/')}"
-
-    def _fetch_game_ids(self) -> list[int]:
-        game_ids: set[int] = set()
-        for season in self.configured_seasons:
-            rows = self.client.list_paginated(
-                "games",
-                params={"seasons[]": season},
-                per_page=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PER_PAGE,
-                page_limit=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PAGE_LIMIT,
-            )
-            for row in rows:
-                game_id = row.get("id")
-                if isinstance(game_id, int):
-                    game_ids.add(game_id)
-        return sorted(game_ids)
 
     def _fetch_stats_rows(self) -> list[dict]:
-        game_ids = self._fetch_game_ids()
-        if not game_ids:
-            logger.info(
-                "provider_stats_skipped_no_games",
-                extra={"provider": self.namespace, "seasons": self.configured_seasons},
-            )
-            return []
-
         all_rows: list[dict] = []
         try:
-            # Use game_ids[] query as documented in balldontlie getting-started flow.
+            # OpenAPI supports seasons[] directly for /nba/v1/stats.
-            for game_id_chunk in self._chunked(game_ids, 25):
+            for season in self.configured_seasons:
                 rows = self.client.list_paginated(
-                    "stats",
+                    self._api_path("stats"),
-                    params={"game_ids[]": game_id_chunk},
+                    params={"seasons[]": season},
                     per_page=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PER_PAGE,
                     page_limit=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PAGE_LIMIT,
                 )
@@ -101,7 +78,7 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
     def search_players(self, *, query: str = "", limit: int = 50, offset: int = 0) -> list[PlayerPayload]:
         params = {"search": query} if query else None
         rows = self.client.list_paginated(
-            "players",
+            self._api_path("players"),
             params=params,
             per_page=min(limit, settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PER_PAGE),
             page_limit=1,
@@ -113,7 +90,7 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
         if not external_player_id.startswith("player-"):
             return None
         player_id = external_player_id.replace("player-", "", 1)
-        payload = self.client.get_json(f"players/{player_id}")
+        payload = self.client.get_json(self._api_path(f"players/{player_id}"))
         data = payload.get("data")
         if not isinstance(data, dict):
             return None
@@ -122,7 +99,7 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
 
     def fetch_players(self) -> list[PlayerPayload]:
         rows = self.client.list_paginated(
-            "players",
+            self._api_path("players"),
             per_page=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PER_PAGE,
             page_limit=settings.PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PAGE_LIMIT,
         )
@@ -132,7 +109,7 @@ class BalldontlieProviderAdapter(BaseProviderAdapter):
         return map_competitions()
 
     def fetch_teams(self) -> list[TeamPayload]:
-        payload = self.client.get_json("teams")
+        payload = self.client.get_json(self._api_path("teams"))
         rows = payload.get("data") or []
         return map_teams(rows if isinstance(rows, list) else [])
 

apps/providers/clients/balldontlie.py

@@ -123,9 +123,6 @@ class BalldontlieClient:
             request_query["per_page"] = per_page
             if cursor is not None:
                 request_query["cursor"] = cursor
-            else:
-                # Keep backwards compatibility for endpoints still supporting page-based pagination.
-                request_query["page"] = page
 
             payload = self.get_json(path, params=request_query)
             data = payload.get("data") or []
@@ -139,11 +136,6 @@ class BalldontlieClient:
                 page += 1
                 continue
 
-            next_page = meta.get("next_page")
-            if next_page:
-                page = int(next_page)
-                continue
-
             break
 
         return rows

config/settings/base.py

@@ -171,14 +171,12 @@ PROVIDER_MVP_DATA_FILE = os.getenv(
 PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRIES = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRIES", "3"))
 PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRY_SLEEP = float(os.getenv("PROVIDER_REQUEST_RETRY_SLEEP", "1"))
 PROVIDER_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = float(os.getenv("PROVIDER_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "10"))
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL = os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL", "https://api.balldontlie.io/nba/v1")
+PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL = os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_BASE_URL", "https://api.balldontlie.io")
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY = os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY", "")
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PAGE_LIMIT = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PAGE_LIMIT", "5"))
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PER_PAGE = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_PLAYERS_PER_PAGE", "100"))
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PAGE_LIMIT = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PAGE_LIMIT", "10"))
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PER_PAGE = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_PER_PAGE", "100"))
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PAGE_LIMIT = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PAGE_LIMIT", "5"))
-PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PER_PAGE = int(os.getenv("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_GAMES_PER_PAGE", "100"))
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_STRICT = env_bool("PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_STATS_STRICT", False)
 PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_SEASONS = [
     int(value.strip())

docs/provider-normalization.md

@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ Raw provider response structures must remain inside `apps/providers` (client/ada
 
 - Source scope is NBA-centric.
 - Competition is normalized as a single NBA competition (`competition-nba`).
+- API contract source is `https://www.balldontlie.io/openapi.yml` (server `https://api.balldontlie.io`, NBA endpoints under `/nba/v1/*`).
 - Team country is not reliably available in source payloads and is normalized to `null`.
 - Player nationality/birth/physical details are not available in player list payloads and are normalized to `null` (except fields explicitly present).
 - Configured seasons are normalized from `PROVIDER_BALLDONTLIE_SEASONS`; the highest configured season is marked `is_current=true`.
+- Stats ingestion uses `/nba/v1/stats` with `seasons[]` and cursor pagination.
 - Advanced metrics (`usage_rate`, `true_shooting_pct`, `player_efficiency_rating`) are currently unavailable from this source path and normalized to `null`.
 
 ## Domain rules vs provider assumptions

templates/players/partials/results.html

@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
     {{ page_obj.paginator.count }} player{{ page_obj.paginator.count|pluralize }} found
   </div>
 </div>
+<p class="mt-2 text-xs text-slate-600">
+  {{ search_metric_semantics }}
+</p>
 
 {% if search_has_errors %}
   <div class="mt-3 rounded-md border border-rose-200 bg-rose-50 p-3 text-sm text-rose-800">
@@ -35,11 +38,11 @@
           <th>Pos / Role</th>
           <th>Origin</th>
           <th>Height / Weight</th>
-          <th>Games</th>
+          <th>Best Eligible Games</th>
-          <th>MPG</th>
+          <th>Best Eligible MPG</th>
-          <th>PPG</th>
+          <th>Best Eligible PPG</th>
-          <th>RPG</th>
+          <th>Best Eligible RPG</th>
-          <th>APG</th>
+          <th>Best Eligible APG</th>
           {% if request.user.is_authenticated %}<th>Watchlist</th>{% endif %}
         </tr>
       </thead>

tests/test_api.py

@@ -128,6 +128,57 @@ def test_players_api_search_consistent_with_ui_filters(client):
     assert api_response.json()["results"][0]["id"] == matching.id
 
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_players_api_metric_sort_uses_best_eligible_values(client):
+    nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Romania", iso2_code="RO", iso3_code="ROU")
+    competition = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="LNBM",
+        slug="lnbm",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.LEAGUE,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    season_old = Season.objects.create(label="2022-2023", start_date=date(2022, 9, 1), end_date=date(2023, 6, 30))
+    season_new = Season.objects.create(label="2023-2024", start_date=date(2023, 9, 1), end_date=date(2024, 6, 30))
+    team = Team.objects.create(name="Bucharest", slug="bucharest", country=nationality)
+
+    p1 = Player.objects.create(first_name="Ion", last_name="Low", full_name="Ion Low", nationality=nationality)
+    p1s = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=p1,
+        season=season_old,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=400,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=p1s, points=13, rebounds=3, assists=2, steals=1, blocks=0.1, turnovers=2)
+
+    p2 = Player.objects.create(first_name="Dan", last_name="High", full_name="Dan High", nationality=nationality)
+    p2s_old = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=p2,
+        season=season_old,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=400,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=p2s_old, points=9, rebounds=3, assists=2, steals=1, blocks=0.1, turnovers=2)
+    p2s_new = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=p2,
+        season=season_new,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=500,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=p2s_new, points=22, rebounds=5, assists=4, steals=1.3, blocks=0.2, turnovers=2.3)
+
+    response = client.get(reverse("api:players"), data={"sort": "ppg_desc"})
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    names = [row["full_name"] for row in response.json()["results"]]
+    assert names.index("Dan High") < names.index("Ion Low")
+
+
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_player_detail_api_includes_origin_fields(client):
     nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Greece", iso2_code="GR", iso3_code="GRC")

tests/test_players_filters_advanced.py

@@ -332,3 +332,207 @@ def test_displayed_metrics_are_scoped_to_filtered_context(client):
     row = list(response.context["players"])[0]
     assert float(row.ppg_value) == pytest.approx(9.0)
     assert float(row.mpg_value) == pytest.approx(25.0)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_displayed_metrics_are_scoped_to_team_season_competition_context(client):
+    nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Czechia", iso2_code="CZ", iso3_code="CZE")
+    position = Position.objects.create(code="SF", name="Small Forward")
+    role = Role.objects.create(code="wing", name="Wing")
+    competition_a = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="NBL",
+        slug="nbl-cz",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.LEAGUE,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    competition_b = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="CZ Cup",
+        slug="cz-cup",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.CUP,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    season = Season.objects.create(label="2024-2025", start_date=date(2024, 9, 1), end_date=date(2025, 6, 30))
+    team = Team.objects.create(name="Prague", slug="prague", country=nationality)
+    player = Player.objects.create(
+        first_name="Adam",
+        last_name="Scope",
+        full_name="Adam Scope",
+        birth_date=date(2002, 2, 2),
+        nationality=nationality,
+        nominal_position=position,
+        inferred_role=role,
+    )
+
+    ps_a = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player,
+        season=season,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition_a,
+        games_played=12,
+        minutes_played=300,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=ps_a, points=11, rebounds=4, assists=3, steals=1, blocks=0.2, turnovers=1.5)
+
+    ps_b = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player,
+        season=season,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition_b,
+        games_played=6,
+        minutes_played=210,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=ps_b, points=24, rebounds=6, assists=5, steals=1.5, blocks=0.3, turnovers=2.2)
+
+    response = client.get(
+        reverse("players:index"),
+        data={"team": team.id, "season": season.id, "competition": competition_a.id},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    row = list(response.context["players"])[0]
+    assert float(row.ppg_value) == pytest.approx(11.0)
+    assert float(row.mpg_value) == pytest.approx(25.0)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_displayed_metrics_without_season_filter_use_best_eligible_values(client):
+    nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Slovenia", iso2_code="SI", iso3_code="SVN")
+    position = Position.objects.create(code="PG", name="Point Guard")
+    role = Role.objects.create(code="playmaker", name="Playmaker")
+    competition = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="SBL",
+        slug="sbl",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.LEAGUE,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    season_a = Season.objects.create(label="2023-2024", start_date=date(2023, 9, 1), end_date=date(2024, 6, 30))
+    season_b = Season.objects.create(label="2024-2025", start_date=date(2024, 9, 1), end_date=date(2025, 6, 30))
+    team = Team.objects.create(name="Ljubljana", slug="ljubljana", country=nationality)
+
+    player = Player.objects.create(
+        first_name="Luka",
+        last_name="Semantics",
+        full_name="Luka Semantics",
+        birth_date=date(2001, 3, 3),
+        nationality=nationality,
+        nominal_position=position,
+        inferred_role=role,
+    )
+
+    # High games, lower per-game production.
+    ps_a = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player,
+        season=season_a,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=34,
+        minutes_played=680,  # 20 MPG
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(
+        player_season=ps_a,
+        points=10.0,
+        rebounds=3.0,
+        assists=4.0,
+        steals=1.0,
+        blocks=0.1,
+        turnovers=2.0,
+    )
+
+    # Lower games, higher per-game production.
+    ps_b = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player,
+        season=season_b,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=18,
+        minutes_played=630,  # 35 MPG
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(
+        player_season=ps_b,
+        points=25.0,
+        rebounds=6.0,
+        assists=8.0,
+        steals=1.5,
+        blocks=0.2,
+        turnovers=3.0,
+    )
+
+    response = client.get(reverse("players:index"))
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    row = next(item for item in response.context["players"] if item.id == player.id)
+    assert float(row.games_played_value) == pytest.approx(34.0)
+    assert float(row.mpg_value) == pytest.approx(35.0)
+    assert float(row.ppg_value) == pytest.approx(25.0)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_ppg_sort_uses_best_eligible_metrics_without_season_filter(client):
+    nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Latvia", iso2_code="LV", iso3_code="LVA")
+    position = Position.objects.create(code="SG", name="Shooting Guard")
+    role = Role.objects.create(code="scorer", name="Scorer")
+    competition = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="LBL",
+        slug="lbl",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.LEAGUE,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    season_old = Season.objects.create(label="2022-2023", start_date=date(2022, 9, 1), end_date=date(2023, 6, 30))
+    season_new = Season.objects.create(label="2023-2024", start_date=date(2023, 9, 1), end_date=date(2024, 6, 30))
+    team = Team.objects.create(name="Riga", slug="riga", country=nationality)
+
+    player_a = Player.objects.create(
+        first_name="A",
+        last_name="Sorter",
+        full_name="A Sorter",
+        birth_date=date(2000, 1, 1),
+        nationality=nationality,
+        nominal_position=position,
+        inferred_role=role,
+    )
+    ps_a = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player_a,
+        season=season_old,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=400,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=ps_a, points=14, rebounds=4, assists=3, steals=1, blocks=0.1, turnovers=2)
+
+    player_b = Player.objects.create(
+        first_name="B",
+        last_name="Sorter",
+        full_name="B Sorter",
+        birth_date=date(2000, 1, 1),
+        nationality=nationality,
+        nominal_position=position,
+        inferred_role=role,
+    )
+    # Lower old season.
+    ps_b_old = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player_b,
+        season=season_old,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=400,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=ps_b_old, points=12, rebounds=3, assists=2, steals=1, blocks=0.1, turnovers=2)
+    # Better newer season; should drive best-eligible ppg sort.
+    ps_b_new = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player_b,
+        season=season_new,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=20,
+        minutes_played=420,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(player_season=ps_b_new, points=21, rebounds=5, assists=4, steals=1.2, blocks=0.2, turnovers=2.5)
+
+    response = client.get(reverse("players:index"), data={"sort": "ppg_desc"})
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    ordered = [row.full_name for row in response.context["players"] if row.full_name in {"A Sorter", "B Sorter"}]
+    assert ordered.index("B Sorter") < ordered.index("A Sorter")

tests/test_players_views.py

@@ -193,3 +193,52 @@ def test_player_search_htmx_invalid_filters_return_validation_feedback(client):
     body = response.content.decode().lower()
     assert "search filters are invalid" in body
     assert "points per game min" in body
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_player_search_results_render_best_eligible_metric_labels(client):
+    nationality = Nationality.objects.create(name="Ireland", iso2_code="IE", iso3_code="IRL")
+    position = Position.objects.create(code="PG", name="Point Guard")
+    role = Role.objects.create(code="playmaker", name="Playmaker")
+    season = Season.objects.create(label="2025-2026", start_date=date(2025, 9, 1), end_date=date(2026, 6, 30))
+    competition = Competition.objects.create(
+        name="Super League",
+        slug="super-league",
+        competition_type=Competition.CompetitionType.LEAGUE,
+        gender=Competition.Gender.MEN,
+        country=nationality,
+    )
+    team = Team.objects.create(name="Dublin", slug="dublin", country=nationality)
+    player = Player.objects.create(
+        first_name="Sean",
+        last_name="Label",
+        full_name="Sean Label",
+        birth_date=date(2001, 1, 1),
+        nationality=nationality,
+        nominal_position=position,
+        inferred_role=role,
+    )
+    season_row = PlayerSeason.objects.create(
+        player=player,
+        season=season,
+        team=team,
+        competition=competition,
+        games_played=10,
+        minutes_played=250,
+    )
+    PlayerSeasonStats.objects.create(
+        player_season=season_row,
+        points=12,
+        rebounds=4,
+        assists=5,
+        steals=1,
+        blocks=0.1,
+        turnovers=2,
+    )
+
+    response = client.get(reverse("players:index"))
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    body = response.content.decode()
+    assert "Best Eligible PPG" in body
+    assert "Best Eligible MPG" in body
+    assert "best eligible values per player" in body.lower()

tests/test_provider_balldontlie.py

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class _FakeSession:
 
 class _FakeBalldontlieClient:
     def get_json(self, path: str, *, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        if path == "teams":
+        if path == "/nba/v1/teams":
             return {
                 "data": [
                     {
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class _FakeBalldontlieClient:
         per_page: int = 100,
         page_limit: int = 1,
     ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
-        if path == "players":
+        if path == "/nba/v1/players":
             return [
                 {
                     "id": 237,
@@ -70,10 +70,7 @@ class _FakeBalldontlieClient:
                     "team": {"id": 14},
                 }
             ]
-        if path == "stats":
+        if path == "/nba/v1/stats":
-            requested_ids = (params or {}).get("game_ids[]") or []
-            if requested_ids and 9902 not in requested_ids:
-                return []
             return [
                 {
                     "pts": 20,
@@ -88,7 +85,7 @@ class _FakeBalldontlieClient:
                     "min": "35:12",
                     "player": {"id": 237},
                     "team": {"id": 14},
-                    "game": {"id": 9901, "season": 2024},
+                    "game": {"season": 2024},
                 },
                 {
                     "pts": 30,
@@ -103,14 +100,9 @@ class _FakeBalldontlieClient:
                     "min": "33:00",
                     "player": {"id": 237},
                     "team": {"id": 14},
-                    "game": {"id": 9902, "season": 2024},
+                    "game": {"season": 2024},
                 },
             ]
-        if path == "games":
-            return [
-                {"id": 9901, "season": 2024},
-                {"id": 9902, "season": 2024},
-            ]
         return []
 
 
@@ -179,7 +171,7 @@ def test_balldontlie_map_seasons_marks_latest_as_current():
 def test_balldontlie_adapter_degrades_when_stats_unauthorized(settings):
     class _UnauthorizedStatsClient(_FakeBalldontlieClient):
         def list_paginated(self, path: str, *, params=None, per_page=100, page_limit=1):
-            if path == "stats":
+            if path == "/nba/v1/stats":
                 raise ProviderUnauthorizedError(
                     provider="balldontlie",
                     path="stats",
@@ -266,6 +258,6 @@ def test_balldontlie_client_cursor_pagination(settings):
     rows = client.list_paginated("players", per_page=1, page_limit=5)
 
     assert rows == [{"id": 1}, {"id": 2}]
-    assert session.calls[0]["params"]["page"] == 1
+    assert "page" not in session.calls[0]["params"]
     assert "cursor" not in session.calls[0]["params"]
     assert session.calls[1]["params"]["cursor"] == 101