Demystifying F, G, and Field Goal Percentage in Basketball - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there basketball buddy! I‘m thrilled to provide the full rundown on some key hoops statistics that often perplex fans. Specifically, we‘re going to unpack field goal percentage, the meaning of "F" and "G", and a bunch of other shooting metrics that provide next-level insights. Grab a cold one and let‘s get nerdy!

What is Field Goal Percentage?

Field goal percentage (FG%) tells us how efficient a player is at shooting the basketball. It‘s calculated by taking their field goals made divided by field goals attempted.

For example, if Andre Drummond shoots 8/16 from the field in a game, his FG% is 8/16 = 50%.

Higher FG% is better, but it varies by position. Centers who take easier shots near the rim have higher averages. Per Basketball Reference, the league average FG% by position is:

• Center: 53%
• Power Forward: 48%
• Small Forward: 45%
• Shooting Guard: 44%
• Point Guard: 42%

So you can see big men convert at higher rates on average. But there‘s a tradeoff, as they take fewer outside shots. Guards shoot more threes which drags their FG% down.

All-Time FG% Leaders

The highest career FG% ever belongs to DeAndre Jordan at 67.4% over 15 seasons. He led the NBA in shooting accuracy for 5 straight years from 2014-2019.

But Jordan is also one of the most limited offensive players ever, only taking 3.1 shots per game for his career. He scores efficiently by feasting on easy looks near the rim thanks to teammates setting him up.

Other notable names high on the all-time FG% list include Wilt Chamberlain (54%), Shaquille O‘Neal (58%), and LeBron James (50%).

Chamberlain and O‘Neal overpowered defenders and lived in the paint. LeBron mixes efficient paint attacks with a steady midrange and three-point shot.

Highest Single Game FG%

The NBA record for highest FG% in a single game belongs to Wilt Chamberlain. He shot a perfect 16/16 from the field back in 1967 against the Baltimore Bullets, scoring 42 points.

Since 2000, the top shooting performance was from Gary Payton II last season. He went 9/9 for 22 points in January 2022.

In terms of volume, Karl Malone holds the record for most field goals without a miss in a game with 18/18 shooting in 1989. He finished with 47 points.

How Pace and Possessions Affect FG%

Raw FG% doesn‘t account for pace or the number of possessions in a game.

For example, James Harden averaged 44% FG in his 36 PPG season. Steph Curry shot 47% when averaging 30 PPG.

At first glance, it appears Curry was more efficient. But Harden scored more points per 100 possessions:

• Harden – 43 points per 100 possessions
• Curry – 40 points per 100 possessions

Plus Harden had a higher usage rate, shooting way more often relative to his team‘s overall attempts.

This illustrates why you can‘t just compare FG% in a vacuum – you need context around pace and possession volume.

eFG% and TS% for Measuring Efficiency

Raw FG% also undervalues three pointers, which are worth 50% more than two-pointers. Players like Curry and Harden are punished in simple FG% for taking more efficient threes.

That‘s why stats like True Shooting Percentage (TS%) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) were created. They account for the added value of made threes and free throws.

In simple terms:

• eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA
• TS% = Points / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA))

So someone like Harden with a high free throw rate and who takes a ton of threes will have better eFG% and TS% than raw FG% alone shows.

The Evolution of FG% Over Time

When looking at FG% era-by-era, we see how different styles of play impact shooting efficiency:

• 1960s – Avg FG%: 43.1%
• 1970s – Avg FG%: 47.6%
• 1980s – Avg FG%: 49.2%
• 1990s – Avg FG%: 48.2%
• 2000s – Avg FG%: 45.2%
• 2010s – Avg FG%: 45.9%

The 1960s saw awful shooting when centers dominated the paint before the three-point line existed. The 1980s were a peak for big men operating inside.

In the 2000s, defenses improved and more threes depressed raw FG% before recovering a bit in the 2010s with higher efficiency scorers like Durant, Curry, Harden.

So FG% evolves with different eras and style of play. You have to look at it in the context of the time.

Diminishing Returns on High Volume Scoring

One other interesting area to analyze is diminishing returns for players with extremely high usage rates. Only 12 players in NBA history have averaged over 35 points per game for a season.

But only Michael Jordan shot over 50% FG in his 35+ PPG seasons. High volume tends to bring FG% down:

• Michael Jordan – 37.1 PPG on 53.5% FG
• LeBron James – 31.4 PPG on 48.0% FG
• Kobe Bryant – 35.4 PPG on 45.6% FG

Jordan was uniquely talented enough to pair insane scoring volume with hyper-efficiency. Most mortals see large declines when asked to carry that heavy a load.

Closing Thoughts

Wow, we covered a ton of ground here breaking down FG%, scoring efficiency, pace, and more! Let me know if you have any other questions basketball buddy. Whether you‘re a fan, coach or player, understanding shooting metrics provides key insights. Hopefully this guide brought you up to speed on everything FG% and how F and G factor into hoops stats!

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