In basketball, “stats” (short for statistics) are numerical measurements that track the performance of players and teams during a game or season. These statistics help analyze a player’s contribution to the game and the overall team performance. Common basketball stats include:
1. Points (PTS) – The total number of points a player scores, either through field goals (2 or 3 points) or free throws.
2. Assists (AST) – The total number of times a player helps set up a scoring opportunity for a teammate by passing the ball.
3. Rebounds (REB) – The total number of times a player retrieves the ball after a missed field goal or free throw attempt. Rebounds are divided into:
– Offensive Rebounds (OREB): Rebounds collected on the offensive end.
– Defensive Rebounds (DREB): Rebounds collected on the defensive end.
4. Steals (STL) – The total number of times a player takes the ball away from an opposing player, resulting in a change of possession.
5. Blocks (BLK) – The total number of times a player deflects or stops an opponent’s field goal attempt, preventing it from going into the basket.
6. Turnovers (TO) – The number of times a player loses possession of the ball to the opposing team, either through a bad pass, steal, or other mistake.
7. Field Goals Made (FGM) – The total number of field goals a player successfully makes during the game.
8. Field Goals Attempted (FGA) – The total number of field goal attempts a player makes, whether successful or not.
9. Field Goal Percentage (FG%) – The percentage of successful field goals made out of the total attempts. It is calculated as (FGM / FGA) 100.
10. Three-Point Field Goals Made (3PM) – The number of three-point shots a player successfully makes.
11. Three-Point Field Goals Attempted (3PA) – The number of three-point shots a player attempts.
12. Three-Point Percentage (3P%) – The percentage of successful three-point shots made out of the total attempts, calculated as (3PM / 3PA) 100.
13. Free Throws Made (FTM) – The total number of free throws a player successfully makes.
14. Free Throws Attempted (FTA) – The total number of free throw attempts a player makes.
15. Free Throw Percentage (FT%) – The percentage of successful free throws made out of the total attempts, calculated as (FTM / FTA) 100.
16. Personal Fouls (PF) – The total number of personal fouls committed by a player during the game.
17. Plus/Minus (+/-) – The point differential when a player is on the court. It indicates how many more points a team scores than its opponent while that player is on the floor.
These statistics are used by coaches, analysts, and fans to assess the performance of individual players and teams in a variety of areas, from scoring efficiency to defensive skills. Advanced stats, such as player efficiency rating (PER), effective field goal percentage (eFG%), and box plus-minus (BPM), are also commonly used to provide a deeper analysis of a player’s overall impact on the game.
