Field goal percentage (FG%)

Field goal percentage (FG%) is the share of a player's field goal attempts that go in. A field goal is any shot other than a free throw, so FG% includes both two-pointers and threes.

Formula

FG% = field goals made ÷ field goals attempted × 100

Attempts are makes plus misses.

Worked example

A player goes 7 for 15 from the field: five twos made on nine tries, and two threes made on six tries.

• Field goals made: 5 + 2 = 7
• Field goals attempted: 9 + 6 = 15
• FG% = 7 ÷ 15 × 100 = 46.7%

What counts as an attempt

• Any shot, throw or tip at the basket in an attempt to score, including blocked shots.
• A shot released before the buzzer.
• A putback tip that is under control.

What does not count as an attempt

• A missed shot when the shooter was fouled in the act of shooting. The FIBA manual records no attempt, because the shooter goes to the free throw line instead. A made shot with a foul ("and one") does count, as a make.
• A shot taken after a teammate's foul or violation was already called.
• Free throws. They have their own free throw percentage.

Judgment calls

Small samples. A player who goes 1 for 1 shoots 100%. Show attempts next to the percentage so a coach can tell a hot night from a trend.

Threes. FG% counts a three the same as a two, so a good three-point shooter can look worse than they are. Three-point percentage shows the threes on their own.

How a statkeeper records it

Record every shot as a make or a miss and as a two or a three. Then FG%, three-point percentage and points all come from the same record.

Say it to HoopReads

You say makes and misses. HoopReads counts the attempts and works out the percentage.

“Carter layup”

“Carter misses the layup”

“James misses the three”

Related stats

See three-point percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds, because most misses lead to one. Back to the basketball stats guide.