Sports stat glossary
Every abbreviation in an NBA, NFL or MLB box score, with the formula behind it, this season’s league leaders and the median across qualified players, so a number has something to be measured against.
NBA33 terms
NBA leadersRebounding
Playmaking & defense
- AssistsASTPasses that led directly to a team-mate's basket.
- StealsSTLPossessions taken off the opponent by picking off a pass or a dribble.
- BlocksBLKOpponent shots swatted away before they reached the rim.
- TurnoversTOPossessions handed to the opponent by a bad pass, a lost dribble or an offensive foul — lower is better.
- Personal FoulsPFFouls committed. Six in one game and the player is disqualified — lower is better.
- Assist-to-Turnover RatioAST/TOAssists for every turnover.
- Steal-to-Turnover RatioSTL/TOSteals for every turnover.
Availability
Shooting
- 3-Pointers Made3PTMThree-point shots made.
- 3-Pointers Attempted3PTAThree-point shots taken, made or missed.
- Field Goals MadeFGMShots made from the floor — everything except free throws.
- Field Goals AttemptedFGAShots taken from the floor, made or missed.
- Free Throws MadeFTMFree throws made.
- Free Throws AttemptedFTAFree throws taken, made or missed.
- Field Goal %FG%Share of shots from the floor that went in. League average sits near 47%.
- 3-Point %3P%Share of three-point attempts that went in. League average sits near 36%.
- Free Throw %FT%Share of free throws that went in. League average sits near 78%.
- True Shooting %TS%Scoring per shot with threes and free throws counted: PTS ÷ (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)). League average sits near 58%.
- Effective Field Goal %eFG%Field goal % with a made three counted as one and a half makes. League average sits near 55%.
- Scoring EfficiencySC-EFFPoints produced per scoring attempt.
- Shooting EfficiencySH-EFFAccuracy with a made three weighted above a made two.
Milestones
NFL42 terms
NFL leadersPassing
- Passing YardsYDSYards gained on the quarterback's completed passes.
- Passing TouchdownsTDTouchdown passes thrown.
- Interceptions ThrownINTPasses thrown to the other team — lower is better.
- CompletionsCMPPasses that reached the intended receiver.
- Passer RatingRTGPasser rating on the NFL's 0-158.3 scale, built from completion rate, yards, touchdowns and interceptions.
- QBRESPN's Total QBR: a quarterback's contribution on every play he is part of, on a 0-100 scale where 50 is average.
- Completion %CMP%Share of passes that were caught. The league average sits near 65%.
- Yards Per Pass AttemptAVGPassing yards per throw, incompletions included. The league average sits near 7.
Rushing
- Rushing YardsYDSYards gained carrying the ball.
- Rushing TouchdownsTDTouchdowns run into the end zone.
- CarriesCARTimes the player ran with the ball.
- Yards Per CarryAVGRushing yards per carry. The league average sits near 4.3.
- FumblesFUMTimes the ball carrier lost the ball, recovered by either side.
- Fumbles LostLSTFumbles the defense recovered.
- First DownsFDRuns that gained a new set of downs.
- Longest PlayLNGThe longest single play of the kind the table counts.
Receiving
Defense
- SacksSACKQuarterbacks tackled behind the line of scrimmage. A shared sack counts as a half.
- TacklesTOTTackles made, solo and assisted together.
- Forced FumblesFFTimes the defender knocked the ball loose, whoever recovered it.
- Passes DefendedPDPasses the defender broke up or deflected.
- Solo TacklesSOLOTackles made alone, with no teammate sharing the credit.
- Fumbles RecoveredFRLoose balls the defender came up with.
- Kicks BlockedKBField goals, extra points and punts the defender blocked.
- Assisted TacklesASTTackles made together with a team-mate.
- StuffsSTFRunners tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage.
- Stuff YardsSTFYDSYards the offense lost on the runs this defender stopped behind the line.
Scoring
Kicking
- Field Goal %FG%Share of field goal attempts that were good.
- Field Goals MadeFGMThree-point kicks the kicker put through the uprights.
- Net Punting AverageNETPunt distance per kick after returns and touchbacks.
- TouchbacksTBPunts that reached the end zone and came out to the 20.
- Fair CatchesFCPunts the returner signalled for and caught without a return.
- Punts Inside the 20IN20Punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
- PuntsPunts kicked.
- Touchback PercentageTB%Share of punts that ended in a touchback.
MLB58 terms
MLB leadersBatting
- Home RunsHRHome runs hit.
- RBIRuns that scored because of this batter's plate appearance.
- HitsHTimes the batter reached base by hitting the ball, without help from an error.
- RunsRTimes the player crossed home plate.
- Stolen BasesSBBases taken while the pitcher was delivering. Being caught is counted separately.
- Doubles2BHits that carried the batter to second base.
- Triples3BHits that carried the batter to third base.
- WalksBBTimes the batter reached first base on four balls.
- StrikeoutsSOTimes this batter struck out — lower is better.
- Sacrifice FliesSFFly-ball outs that let a runner score.
- Sacrifice HitsSHBunts that give up an out to move a runner up.
- Total BasesTBBases gained on hits: one for a single up to four for a home run.
- Extra-Base HitsXBHDoubles, triples and home runs together.
- Hit By PitchHBPTimes the batter was hit by a pitch and awarded first base.
- Intentional WalksIBBWalks the defense chose to give.
- Grounded Into Double PlayGIDPGround balls that became two outs.
- Caught StealingCSSteal attempts thrown out.
- At BatsABPlate appearances that ended in a hit or an out, walks and sacrifices aside.
- Plate AppearancesPAEvery trip to the plate, walks and sacrifices included.
Batting rates
- Batting AverageAVGHits per at-bat. .300 is the traditional line between a good hitter and a great one.
- OPSOn-base percentage plus slugging. Around .800 is All-Star level, .900 is MVP territory.
- On-Base %OBPShare of plate appearances that ended with the batter on base — hits, walks and hit-by-pitches.
- Slugging %SLGTotal bases per at-bat, so a home run counts four times a single.
- Isolated PowerISOPExtra bases per at-bat: slugging with the singles taken out. .200 is real power.
- Stolen Base PercentageSB%Share of steal attempts that succeeded.
- Secondary AverageSECABases gained beyond singles, from power, walks and steals, per at-bat.
- Pitches Per Plate AppearanceP/PAPitches the batter saw per trip to the plate.
- Walks Per StrikeoutBB/KWalks drawn for every strikeout.
- Walk RateBB/PAShare of plate appearances that ended in a walk.
- At-Bats Per Home RunAB/HRAt-bats needed per home run — lower means more power.
- Runs CreatedRCEstimate of the runs the batter’s hitting produced.
- Runs Created Per 27 OutsRC/27Runs a lineup of this batter would score in a full game.
Pitching
- ERAEarned runs allowed per nine innings pitched — lower is better. Under 3.00 is excellent.
- WHIPWalks and hits allowed per inning pitched — lower is better. Around 1.00 is elite.
- SavesSVGames finished by protecting a narrow lead to the last out.
- WinsWGames in which this pitcher was credited with the win.
- Strikeouts (Pitching)KBatters this pitcher struck out.
- Strikeouts Per 9 InningsK/9Strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
- Strikeout-to-Walk RatioK/BBStrikeouts for every walk issued. 3.0 is good, 5.0 is elite.
- Innings PitchedIPOuts recorded, in innings: 170.2 is 170 innings and two outs.
- Winning PercentageW%Share of a pitcher’s decisions that were wins.
- HoldsHLDRelief outings that protected a lead without finishing the game.
- Quality StartsQSStarts of six innings or more with three earned runs or fewer.
- Complete GamesCGGames the starter pitched from first out to last.
- ShutoutsSHOComplete games that allowed no runs.
- BalksBKIllegal pitching motions with runners on base.
- Wild PitchesWPPitches the catcher could not handle that let a runner advance.
- Game ScoreGSCBill James’s one-number grade of a start, averaged: 50 is ordinary.
- Total Batters FacedTBFPlate appearances against the pitcher.
- Opponent Batting AverageOBAThe batting average hitters managed against the pitcher.
- LossesLGames charged to the pitcher whose team fell behind for good.
- Inherited RunnersIRRunners already on base when the reliever came in.
- Inherited Runners ScoredIRSInherited runners who went on to score.
- Run SupportRSUPRuns his own team scored while he pitched.
- Batters HitBHBatters hit by one of his pitches.
- Opponent OPSOOPSOn-base plus slugging hitters managed against him.