Basketball statistics fall into five layers — from raw box-score counts to possession-aware ratings to the four factors that predict winning. This guide walks all five, with links into the full ArcStat glossary for formulas and worked examples.
Looking for a quick reference instead? See the basketball stats abbreviations cheat sheet — every box-score abbreviation in one table.
01 · Layer
The box score basics
Every basketball line starts here — the raw counting stats that show up in every box score. They are simple, universal, and where every conversation about a player's game begins.
- PPGPoints Per GamePPG is total points scored divided by games played — the simplest measure of a scorer’s output.
- RPGRebounds Per GameRPG is total rebounds divided by games played — combining offensive and defensive boards into a single per-game number.
- APGAssists Per GameAPG is total assists divided by games played — how many baskets per game a player directly created for a teammate.
- SPGSteals Per GameSPG is total steals divided by games played — the cleanest counting stat for on-ball defensive playmaking.
- BPGBlocks Per GameBPG is total blocks divided by games played — the headline rim-protection stat for centers and forwards.
- TOVTurnovers Per GameTurnovers per game is how often a player coughs up the ball — the negative twin of assists.
02 · Layer
Shooting efficiency
Raw FG% under-credits players who shoot threes and over-credits players who never get to the line. These four metrics fix that, in increasing order of completeness.
- FG%Field Goal PercentageFG% is the share of shot attempts (2s and 3s combined) that go in — the most basic shooting efficiency metric.
- 3P%Three-Point Percentage3P% is the share of three-point attempts that go in — the cleanest measure of a shooter’s long-range accuracy.
- FT%Free Throw PercentageFT% is the share of free throws made — the purest measure of unguarded shooting touch.
- eFG%Effective Field Goal PercentageeFG% is FG% adjusted to give 3-pointers the bonus they deserve — a 3 is worth 50% more than a 2.
- TS%True Shooting PercentageTS% measures shooting efficiency across 2-pointers, 3-pointers, and free throws on a single 0–100 scale.
- FT/FGAFree Throw RateFree Throw Rate is FTA divided by FGA — how often a player draws fouls relative to how often they shoot.
03 · Layer
All-around impact
These metrics try to summarize an entire game (or season) in a single number — combining scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defense, and ball control.
- PERPlayer Efficiency RatingPER is a per-game number summarizing everything a player does — scoring, rebounds, assists, defense, and turnovers.
- GmScGame ScoreGame Score is John Hollinger’s single-number summary of a player’s value in one game — scaled like points.
- +/-Plus-MinusPlus-minus is the team’s point differential while a player is on the floor — credits or charges every player on the court.
04 · Layer
Possession-aware metrics
A team that scores 100 points in 110 possessions is dramatically less efficient than one that scores 100 in 80. Pace-adjusted metrics control for that gap and let you compare teams that play different styles.
- PacePacePace is possessions per 48 minutes — how fast a team plays, independent of how well they score.
- ORtgOffensive RatingOffensive Rating is points scored per 100 possessions — the standard pace-adjusted offensive efficiency metric.
- DRtgDefensive RatingDefensive Rating is points allowed per 100 possessions — the standard pace-adjusted defensive efficiency metric.
- USG%Usage RateUSG% measures the share of a team’s offensive plays a player is responsible for — shots, free throws, and turnovers combined.
- TOV%Turnover PercentageTOV% estimates what percentage of a player’s possessions ended in a turnover — controlling for usage.
05 · Layer
The four factors
Dean Oliver's four factors are the cleanest framework for "what predicts winning?" — shooting efficiency, ball control, offensive rebounding, and getting to the free-throw line. Master these and the rest of basketball analytics rhymes with them.
- eFG%Effective Field Goal PercentageeFG% is FG% adjusted to give 3-pointers the bonus they deserve — a 3 is worth 50% more than a 2.
- TOV%Turnover PercentageTOV% estimates what percentage of a player’s possessions ended in a turnover — controlling for usage.
- ORB%Offensive Rebound PercentageORB% is the share of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while on the floor.
- DRB%Defensive Rebound PercentageDRB% is the share of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while on the floor.
- FT/FGAFree Throw RateFree Throw Rate is FTA divided by FGA — how often a player draws fouls relative to how often they shoot.