Basketball Stats Explained | Generated by AI
Basketball statistics provide a numerical way to evaluate a player’s or team’s performance. Here’s a breakdown of common terms you’ll encounter:
Basic (Per Game) Statistics:
These are usually presented as “per game” averages, indicated by the “PG” suffix.
- PPG (Points Per Game): The average number of points a player scores per game. This is the most straightforward measure of a player’s scoring ability.
- GP (Games Played): The total number of games a player has participated in during a season or their career.
- GS (Games Started): The number of games a player has started, indicating if they are a regular in the starting lineup.
- MPG (Minutes Per Game): The average number of minutes a player spends on the court per game.
- RPG (Rebounds Per Game): The average number of rebounds a player grabs per game. Rebounds are when a player gains possession of the ball after a missed shot.
- OREB (Offensive Rebounds): Rebounds grabbed by a player’s own team after one of their missed shots, giving them another scoring opportunity.
- DREB (Defensive Rebounds): Rebounds grabbed by a player’s opposing team after a missed shot, ending the opponent’s possession.
- APG (Assists Per Game): The average number of assists a player makes per game. An assist is a pass that leads directly to a teammate scoring a field goal.
- SPG (Steals Per Game): The average number of steals a player gets per game. A steal is when a defensive player takes the ball away from an offensive player.
- BPG (Blocks Per Game): The average number of blocks a player gets per game. A block is when a defensive player deflects an opponent’s shot, preventing it from going into the basket.
- TOV (Turnovers): The number of times a player or team loses possession of the ball through their own fault (e.g., bad pass, traveling, offensive foul).
Shooting Percentages:
These indicate a player’s efficiency in scoring.
- FG% (Field Goal Percentage): The percentage of made field goals (2-point and 3-point shots) out of the total attempted. Formula: (Field Goals Made / Field Goals Attempted) x 100.
- 3P% (Three-Point Percentage): The percentage of made three-point field goals out of the total attempted. Formula: (Three-Point Field Goals Made / Three-Point Field Goals Attempted) x 100.
- FT% (Free Throw Percentage): The percentage of made free throws out of the total attempted. Formula: (Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted) x 100.
Other Important Terms:
- FGM/FGA (Field Goals Made/Attempted): The number of field goals a player has made versus the number they have attempted. Often shown as “10-20 FG” meaning 10 made shots out of 20 attempted.
- 3PM/3PA (Three-Point Field Goals Made/Attempted): Similar to FGM/FGA, but specifically for three-point shots.
- FTM/FTA (Free Throws Made/Attempted): Similar to FGM/FGA, but specifically for free throws.
- +/- (Plus/Minus): This statistic measures the point differential of a team when a particular player is on the court. A positive plus/minus means the team outscored the opponent while that player was playing, while a negative means they were outscored. It’s a way to gauge a player’s overall impact.
- DD (Double-Double): When a player records double-digits (10 or more) in two different statistical categories in a single game (e.g., 20 points and 12 rebounds).
- TD (Triple-Double): When a player records double-digits in three different statistical categories in a single game (e.g., 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists). These are less common and highlight a player’s versatility.
- Quadruple-Double: Extremely rare, when a player records double-digits in four different statistical categories.
Advanced Statistics (More Complex):
These metrics aim to provide a deeper understanding of player and team performance beyond simple counting stats.
- EFF (Efficiency): A composite statistic that attempts to sum up a player’s overall contribution. The exact formula can vary, but a common one is: (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - (Turnovers + Missed Field Goals + Missed Free Throws).
- PER (Player Efficiency Rating): Developed by John Hollinger, this is a per-minute rating that attempts to quantify a player’s per-minute production while adjusting for pace.
- TS% (True Shooting Percentage): A more accurate shooting efficiency metric that accounts for the value of 3-pointers and free throws. Formula: PTS / (2 * (FGA + 0.44 * FTA)).
- eFG% (Effective Field Goal Percentage): Adjusts regular field goal percentage to give more credit for 3-point shots, as they are worth more points. Formula: (FGM + 0.5 * 3PM) / FGA.
- Usage % (USG%): An estimate of the percentage of team possessions a player uses while they are on the floor.
Understanding these terms allows for a more comprehensive analysis of basketball games and player performances.