NBA 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.