Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and keeping track of player and team statistics is a big part of understanding the game. From points to rebounds to blocks, it can be difficult to keep track of all the different statistics and their associated abbreviations. To help out, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most common basketball stats and their abbreviations so you can easily understand the data.
Points (PTS)
One of the most common and important statistics in basketball is points. Points are awarded to a player when they score a basket and are represented by the abbreviation PTS. The player with the most points at the end of the game is usually the one that leads their team to victory.
Assists (AST)
Assists are awarded to a player when they help another player score a basket. This could mean passing the ball to an open teammate, setting a screen, or any other action that leads to a score. Assists are represented by the abbreviation AST.
Rebounds (REB)
Rebounds occur when a player grabs a missed shot from either their own team or the opposing team. Rebounders usually have a knack for positioning themselves well and being able to jump higher than other players. Rebounding is an important part of basketball and is represented by the abbreviation REB.
Steals (STL)
Steals are awarded to a player when they successfully take the ball away from an opponent. This could be done by intercepting a pass or taking the ball away from a player while they are dribbling. Steals are represented by the abbreviation STL.
Blocks (BLK)
Blocks occur when a player successfully stops an opponent’s shot from going in the hoop. This could mean jumping in the air to block a shot or swiping down on the ball as it’s being released. Blocks are represented by the abbreviation BLK.
Turnovers (TO)
Turnovers occur when a player loses possession of the ball to the opposing team. This could be as a result of a bad pass, a stolen ball, or a travel. Turnovers are represented by the abbreviation TO.
Field Goal Percentage (FG%)
Field goal percentage is a statistic that measures a player’s accuracy from the field. It is calculated by dividing the number of made shots by the number of attempted shots. Field goal percentage is represented by the abbreviation FG%.
Free Throw Percentage (FT%)
Free throw percentage is a statistic that measures a player’s accuracy from the free throw line. It is calculated by dividing the number of made shots by the number of attempted shots. Free throw percentage is represented by the abbreviation FT%.
3-Point Percentage (3P%)
3-point percentage is a statistic that measures a player’s accuracy from beyond the 3-point line. It is calculated by dividing the number of made shots by the number of attempted shots. 3-point percentage is represented by the abbreviation 3P%.
Field Goal Attempts (FGA)
Field goal attempts are the total number of shots a player has attempted in a game. This includes shots taken from inside the 3-point line and shots taken from beyond the 3-point line. Field goal attempts are represented by the abbreviation FGA.
Free Throw Attempts (FTA)
Free throw attempts are the total number of shots a player has attempted from the free throw line. Free throw attempts are represented by the abbreviation FTA.
3-Point Attempts (3PA)
3-point attempts are the total number of shots a player has attempted from beyond the 3-point line. 3-point attempts are represented by the abbreviation 3PA.
Minutes Played (MINS)
Minutes played is a statistic that measures the amount of time a player has been on the court in a game. It is calculated by dividing the total number of minutes played by the total number of games played. Minutes played is represented by the abbreviation MINS.
Conclusion
Now that you know the abbreviation for all the different basketball stats, you’ll be able to easily understand the data and track the progress of your favorite players and teams. Keeping track of basketball stats can be difficult and time-consuming, but with this guide, you’ll be able to make sense of the data in no time.