Sports stat glossary
Every abbreviation in an NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB or NHL 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.
NBA36 terms
NBA leadersScoring
- PointsPTSPoints scored — a free throw is worth 1, a shot inside the arc 2, beyond it 3.
- Fantasy PointsESPNFantasy points in ESPN’s default points league: a point per point, three and rebound, two per assist and made field goal, four per steal and block, minus a point per missed shot and two per turnover.
Rebounding
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
Discipline
- Technical FoulsTECHTechnical fouls, called for conduct rather than contact: arguing, taunting, hanging on the rim.
- Flagrant FoulsFLAGFouls the officials judged unnecessary or excessive contact; two in a game is an ejection.
- EjectionsEJECTTimes the player was thrown out of a game.
- DisqualificationsDQGames the player fouled out of.
NFL47 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.
- Rushing First DownsFDRuns that gained a new set of downs, touchdowns included.
- FumblesFUMTimes the ball carrier lost the ball, recovered by either side.
- Fumbles LostLSTFumbles the defense recovered.
- Longest PlayLNGThe longest single play of the kind the table counts.
Receiving
- ReceptionsRECPasses caught.
- TargetsTGTSPasses thrown the player's way, caught or not.
- Receiving YardsYDSYards gained on catches, including yards run after the catch.
- Receiving TouchdownsTDTouchdowns scored on a catch.
- Yards Per ReceptionAVGReceiving yards per catch. The league average sits near 11.
- Yards After CatchYACReceiving yards gained after the ball was caught.
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
- TouchdownsTDEvery touchdown the player scored — running, catching and returning.
- Two-Point Conversions2PTConversions run or caught from the two-yard line after a touchdown, worth two points instead of the kick's one.
- PPR Fantasy PointsPPRFantasy points in PPR scoring: a point per catch, per 10 rushing or receiving yards and per 25 passing yards, 6 per touchdown scored, 4 per touchdown pass, −2 per interception or lost fumble.
- Half PPR Fantasy PointsHALFFantasy points with half a point per catch; yards and touchdowns score as in PPR.
- Standard Fantasy PointsSTDFantasy points with nothing for a catch: yards, touchdowns, interceptions and fumbles only.
- Extra PointsPATOne-point kicks made after a touchdown.
- Fantasy Points Per GamePPGPPR fantasy points per game played.
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.
MLB69 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.
- Pitches SeenPPitches thrown to the batter.
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.
- Ground Out to Fly Out RatioGO/FOGround-ball outs for every fly-ball out.
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.
- Earned RunsERRuns allowed that scored without help from an error.
- Blown SavesBLSVLeads he was brought in to protect and lost.
- Ground Ball to Fly Ball RatioG/FGround balls for every fly ball hit against him.
- Pitches ThrownPPitches he threw.
- Pitches Per InningP/IPitches thrown per inning pitched.
- Pitches Per StartP/SPitches thrown per game started.
- Pitches Per Batter FacedP-TBFPitches thrown per batter faced.
- Opponent On-Base PercentageOOBPOn-base percentage hitters managed against him.
- Opponent Slugging PercentageOSLUGSlugging percentage hitters managed against him.
NHL28 terms
NHL leadersScoring
- GoalsGGoals scored.
- AssistsAPasses or shots that led to a teammate’s goal — up to two a goal.
- PointsPTSGoals plus assists.
- Plus/Minus+/-Even-strength and short-handed goals for, minus goals against, while the player was on the ice.
- Power-Play GoalsPPGGoals scored while the other team was short a player.
- Power-Play AssistsPPAAssists on goals scored with a man advantage.
- Short-Handed GoalsSHGGoals scored while the player’s own team was a man down.
- Game-Winning GoalsGWGThe goal that put the winner one ahead of the loser’s final total.
- Shooting %SPCTGoals per shot on goal. Around 10% is the league norm for a forward.
- Shots on GoalSShots that reached the goalie or went in. Shots that missed the net or were blocked do not count.
- Short-Handed AssistsSHAAssists on goals scored a man down.
Physical play
Faceoffs
Goaltending
- WinsWGames the goalie was in net for when his team took the lead for good.
- LossesLRegulation losses charged to the goalie — lower is better.
- Overtime LossesOTLLosses in overtime or a shootout, which still earn the team a point.
- Goals-Against AverageGAAGoals allowed per 60 minutes in net — lower is better. Around 2.50 is a good starter.
- Save %SV%Share of shots on goal the goalie stopped. .910 is about the league average.
- SavesSVShots on goal the goalie stopped.
- ShutoutsSOGames the goalie finished without allowing a goal.
- Goals AgainstGAGoals scored on the goalie — lower is better.
- Shots AgainstSAShots on goal the goalie faced.
- Games StartedGSGames the goalie started.