Analytics Glossary - Player Evaluation

Will Brady
Oct 14, 2023
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  • The goal of this page is to contextualize certain metrics that I find useful when evaluating players

  • Formulas for how the metrics are calculated are hyperlinked to the term name

  • This is a running page that I will continually update - if you come across a metric you find useful, please share and I will add it to the list

NO SINGLE METRIC OR STATISTIC TELLS THE ENTIRE STORY. ALL REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF CONTEXT IN ORDER TO BE APPROPRIATELY APPLIED.

  • Assist Percentage (AST%): An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while he was on the floor (Basketball Reference)

    • Why I Find Useful: Helps determine how large an impact a player has in his team’s shot creation when he is on the floor

    • Key Context to Remember: Like most efficiency metrics, AST% requires a large enough sample size of possessions played to have statistical significance.

    • Helpful When Linked With: Individual Turnover Percentage (%TOV)

  • Block Percentage (BLK%): An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while he was on the floor (Basketball Reference)

    • Why I Find Useful: Provides a look at a player’s efficiency as as a rim protector

    • Key Context to Remember: Blocks are not the only way to impact an opponents shot. Oftentimes the best shot blockers cause opponents to alter their shot mechanics, which leads to missed shots without being charted as a block in the box score. Even better, an intimidating shot blocker can cause an opponent to forego a shot entirely - another form of point prevention not captured by this metric or traditional box score metrics.

    • Helpful When Linked With: Individual Field Goal % Allowed at the Rim

  • Free Throw Rate (FTr): Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt (Basketball Reference)

    • Why I Find Useful: Allows one to determine how often a player gets to the free throw line relative to how large their offensive role is overall

    • Key Context to Remember: Getting to the free throw line is one of the key drivers of an efficient scoring profile

    • Helpful When Linked With: True Shooting (TS%)

  • True Shooting Percentage (TS%): A measure of shooting efficiency that takes into account field goals, 3-point field goals, and free throws (Basketball Reference)

    • Why I Find Useful: TS% helps give an accurate view of scoring efficiency because it factors in a player’s entire scoring profile

    • Key Context to Remember: League average TS% differs by position, just as FG% does. 2022-23 league average TS% by position is linked here (StatMuse)

    • Helpful When Linked With: Usage Percentage (USG%)

  • Three-Point Attempt Rate (3PAr): The percentage of a players field goal attempts that come from three point range (3FG/FGA)

    • Why I Find Useful: Helps to distinguish how aggressive a player is from three point range relative to their overall shot profile.

    • Key Context to Remember: Because (to a point) a player needs to convert less frequently from three point range than they do from two point range in order to score the same amount of points, 3PAr can be one of the indicators for why a player with a lower FG% may have the same or better TS% than a player with a higher FG%.

    • Helpful When Linked With: True Shooting Percentage (TS%)

  • Turnover Percentage (TOV%): An estimate of the percentage of a player’s possessions that end in a turnover

    • Why I Find Useful: TOV% helps determine how well a player takes care of the ball regardless of their usage rate

    • Key Context to Remember: League average TOV% will vary greatly by position. An acceptable TOV% for a point guard is likely to be significantly higher than what is acceptable for a center.

    • Helpful When Linked With: Assist Percentage (AST%)

  • Usage Percentage (USG%): An estimate of the percentage of team plays that end in a shot, turnover or drawn foul by a given player (i.e. how often the player is “used” when they are on the court)

    • Why I Find Useful: Helps me to understand how big of a role a player has in their teams offense

    • Key Context to Remember: The higher a player’s USG% is, the more difficult it is for that player (generally) to maintain a high level of efficiency

    • Helpful When Linked With: True Shooting Percentage (TS%)