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In basketball, a field goal is any shot that a player attempts during live play that is not a free throw. It is one of the most important statistics in the game and is used in the NBA, NCAA, and high school basketball. Field goals can be scored in many ways, including jump shots, layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins. The value of a field goal varies depending on the distance from the basket and the type of game being played. Typically, a field goal is worth two points if it is a close-range shot or a perimeter shot within the three-point line, and three points if it is outside the three-point line.
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What You'll Learn
Field goal history and terminology
In basketball, a "field goal" is any shot, other than a free throw, that is attempted by a player. It is worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the basket. The term "field" or "the basketball field" refers to the court, hence the name "field goal". Field goals can be as simple as a jump shot or take various forms such as layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins. A layup is when an offensive player drives to the basket and attempts a two-point field goal from inside the paint area without making contact with the rim. A slam dunk is when a player jumps near the basket with possession and throws the ball down into their own hoop while airborne. If a player misses their shot, they can tap the ball into the hoop as it rolls off the rim, which is called a "tip-in" and is worth one point.
The field goal percentage is a crucial statistic in basketball, used to evaluate players' performance and determine some of the best players in the game. It is calculated by taking the number of field goals made, dividing it by the total number of field goals attempted, and multiplying by 100. A player with good shooting skills usually averages about 40% from the field. To calculate the effective field goal percentage, one must first add up all the two-point baskets made, then multiply that number by 1.5, and finally add the result to the number of two-point field goals made. This number is then divided by the total number of two-pointers attempted and multiplied by 100 to get the effective field goal percentage.
Some of the greatest shooters in NBA history include Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the top four spots for most field goals made in a season and has the second-highest field goal percentage for a season at 72.7%. Michael Jordan has led the NBA in field goals made ten times, while Shaquille O'Neal holds the record for most seasons with the best field goal percentage. DeAndre Jordan has the highest career field goal percentage at 67.4%. Diana Taurasi holds the record for the most field goals in a WNBA season, with 298 out of 660 attempts in 2006. Baron Davis holds the NBA record for the longest successful field goal, with an 89-foot shot in 2001.
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Field goal scoring
Field goals can be worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the basket. A close-range field goal or a shot within the three-point line is typically worth two points, while a shot outside the three-point line is worth three points. In certain variations of the game, such as 3x3, close-range and perimeter shots may be worth only one point.
The field goal percentage is a crucial statistic used to evaluate players. It is calculated by taking the number of field goals made, multiplying it by 1.5, adding that to the number of two-point field goals made, and then dividing the total by the number of two-pointers attempted, finally multiplying by 100. This statistic helps teams assess players for drafting or trading purposes.
Some of the greatest players in basketball history are known for their field goal scoring prowess. Wilt Chamberlain holds the top spots for most field goals made in a season, while Michael Jordan is renowned for his iconic "fadeaway" move and his high shooting percentages. Other notable field goal shooters include Shaquille O'Neal, DeAndre Jordan, and Baron Davis, who holds the NBA record for the longest successful field goal at 89 feet.
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Field goal shot types
In basketball, a field goal is any shot, other than a free throw, that is attempted by a player. Field goal shots can be broadly classified into two types: close-range field goal shots near the basket and perimeter-based field goal shots that are further away from the basket.
Close-range field goal shots include sub-types like the layup, the hook shot, the floater, the slam dunk, and the alley-oop action. A layup is a close-range shot where an offensive player attempts a two-point field goal from inside the paint area without making contact with the rim. A slam dunk, on the other hand, involves a player jumping near the basket with possession and throwing the ball down into the hoop while still airborne.
Perimeter-based field goal shots include the standard mid-range jump shot, the bank shot, the fadeaway jump shot, and the three-point jump shot. These shots are taken from beyond the three-point line and are typically worth three points. However, in certain variations of the game, such as 3x3 or informal games, these shots may be worth only one or two points, depending on the shooting distance.
Field goals can also encompass more basic shots like jump shots or more complex moves like tip-ins, where a player taps the ball into the hoop as it is rolling off the rim, earning them a point and another chance to score.
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Field goal statistics
Field goal percentage is one of the most important individual statistics in basketball. It is calculated by taking the number of field goals made and dividing it by the number of field goals attempted, then multiplying that number by 100. For example, a player who attempted 10 shots and made 4 of them has a field goal percentage of 40%. This statistic is crucial for teams when evaluating players they want to draft or trade for.
Field goals can take many forms, including jump shots, layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins. A layup is when an offensive player drives to the basket and attempts a two-point field goal from inside the paint area without making contact with the rim. A slam dunk is when a player jumps near the basket with possession and throws the ball down into their own hoop while airborne. A "tip-in" is when a player misses their shot and taps the ball into the hoop as it is rolling off the rim, counting as one point and giving them another chance to score.
Some of the best players in basketball have high field goal percentages. Wilt Chamberlain, one of the most prolific scorers of all time, holds the top four spots for most field goals made in a season and has the second-highest field goal percentage for a season at 72.7%. Michael Jordan, another legendary player, led the NBA in field goals made ten times. Shaquille O'Neal, known for his high-percentage layups and dunks, had a career FG% of around .580, which is considered very good.
There are also records for the greatest number of field goals in a single season. Diana Taurasi of the WNBA holds this record, having attempted 660 field goals and made 298 of them in the 2006 season. In the NBA, Baron Davis set the record for the longest successful field goal with an 89-foot shot in 2001.
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Famous field goal shooters
In basketball, a "field goal" is any shot that a player attempts, except for a free throw. It is worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the basket. Field goals can be simple jump shots or more complex moves like layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins.
Some of the most famous field goal shooters in basketball history include:
- Wilt Chamberlain: Holding the top four spots for most field goals made in a season, Chamberlain is one of the most prolific scorers of all time. He has an impressive 72% success rate.
- Mitchell Robinson: Robinson, a New York Knicks center, set the record for the highest field goal percentage in a single season (74.2%) during the 2019-2020 NBA campaign.
- Michael Jordan: Often considered one of the greatest players of all time, Jordan led the NBA in field goals made ten times and consistently achieved high shooting percentages.
- Shaquille O'Neal: Known for his dominant presence near the basket, O'Neal holds the record for most seasons (10) with the best field goal percentage.
- DeAndre Jordan: DeAndre Jordan has the record for the highest career field goal percentage, with an impressive 67.4%.
- Steve Nash: Nash is known for his exceptional shooting accuracy, holding the record for 50-40-90 seasons, demonstrating his all-around shooting ability for two-point field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with an astonishing 15,000+ field goals made.
- Baron Davis: Holding the NBA record for the longest successful field goal, Davis made an 89-foot shot in 2001.
- Diana Taurasi: Taurasi holds the record for the greatest number of field goals in a WNBA season. In 2006, she achieved 298 out of 660 attempted field goals, earning a Guinness World Record.
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Frequently asked questions
A field goal is any shot, other than a free throw, that is attempted by a player. It can be any shot near the basket or near the perimeter taken by an offensive player in possession of the basketball within the boundary lines of the court. Field goals can be jump shots, layups, slam dunks, or tip-ins.
A field goal is scored when a player shoots from beyond the three-point line and the ball goes through the basket. A field goal is worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the basket.
Field goal percentage is one of the most important individual statistics in basketball. It is calculated by taking the number of field goals made by a player, dividing it by the number attempted, and then multiplying it by 100.
A free throw is an unguarded shot taken from the free-throw line after a foul by the opposing team. A free throw is worth one point. A field goal, on the other hand, is worth two or three points and is taken during live play.
