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In basketball, a field goal is a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw. It is worth two or three points depending on the location of the attempt on the basket. The term field refers to the court, and a field goal is any shot taken from the court, whether it be a layup or a three-point shot. Field goals are an extremely important statistic in determining some of the best players in basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw |
| Point value | 2 or 3 points depending on the location of the attempt on the basket |
| Uncommon point values | 1 point in FIBA 3x3 basketball competitions or 4 points in the BIG3 basketball league |
| Types | Close-range field goal shots near the basket, perimeter-based field goal shots that are further away from the basket |
| Close-range field goal subtypes | Layup, hook shot, floater, slam dunk, alley-oop action |
| Perimeter-based field goal subtypes | Standard mid-range jump shot, bank shot, fadeaway jump shot, three-point jump shot |
| Three-point field goal distance | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in the NBA, 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) in FIBA, WNBA, NCAA, NAIA |
| Record for most field goals in a WNBA season | 298 by Diana Taurasi |
| Record for longest successful field goal | 89 feet by Baron Davis |
| Record for most field goals made in a career | 15,837 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
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What You'll Learn
Field goal scoring
In basketball, a field goal is a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw. The value of a field goal varies depending on the location of the attempt on the basket and the type of competition. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a field goal is worth two points if made within the three-point line and three points if made from beyond the three-point line. The three-point line in the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket.
There are two primary types of field goal shots: close-range field goals and perimeter-based field goals. Close-range field goals are attempts made near the basket and include subtypes such as the layup, hook shot, floater, slam dunk, and alley-oop. Perimeter-based field goals are attempts made from further away from the basket and include subtypes such as the mid-range jump shot, bank shot, fadeaway jump shot, and three-point jump shot.
The percentage of field goals made is an important statistic in evaluating basketball players. The field goal percentage is calculated by dividing the number of field goals made by the number of attempts and multiplying by 100. Players with high field goal percentages typically average double digits in points per game.
Some notable players with high field goal percentages include Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the top four spots for most field goals made in a season and has a career field goal percentage of 72.7%. Michael Jordan is also known for his field goal prowess, having led the NBA in field goals made ten times.
In certain variations of basketball, such as 3x3 or informal games, the scoring system may differ. For example, in 3x3, close-range field goals and perimeter-based shots within the three-point line are worth one point, while perimeter-based shots outside the three-point line are worth two points. In the BIG3 professional basketball league, certain long-distance perimeter shots are worth four points.
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Field goal percentage
In the context of basketball, the term "field" refers to the court, making "field goal" synonymous with "court goal". Field goals can take various forms, including jump shots, layups, and dunks. A slam dunk, for instance, involves a player jumping near the basket, throwing the ball, and scoring while still airborne. The specific rules regarding field goals can vary across different basketball leagues. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a field goal typically earns two or three points, depending on the distance from which the shot is taken.
Some players have achieved notable field goal percentages. For instance, Shaquille O'Neal had a high career FG% of approximately .580 due to his frequent high-percentage layups and dunks. DeAndre Jordan holds the record for the highest career field goal percentage at 67.4%. Wilt Chamberlain achieved the second-highest field goal percentage for a season at 72.7%. Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks broke that record in the 2019-20 season, achieving a field goal percentage of 74.2%.
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Field goal types
A field goal in basketball is any shot or tap, other than a free throw, that is attempted by a player. Field goals are typically worth two or three points, depending on the location of the attempt on the basket. In rare cases, a field goal can be worth one point in FIBA 3x3 basketball competitions or four points in the BIG3 basketball league.
Field goals can be classified into two primary types: close-range field goals near the basket and perimeter-based field goals that are further away from the basket.
Close-range field goals include subtypes such as the layup, hook shot, floater, slam dunk, and alley-oop action. These shots have a high probability of being successful and are often prioritized by coaches.
Perimeter-based field goals include subtypes such as the standard mid-range jump shot, bank shot, fadeaway jump shot, and three-point jump shot. The three-point field goal, also known as a triple, is made from beyond the three-point line and is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for field goals made within this line. The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies depending on the competition level.
Field goal statistics are crucial in evaluating players' performance and include metrics such as field goals made, field goals attempted, and field goal percentage.
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Field goal violations
In basketball, a field goal is a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw. It is worth two or three points, depending on the location of the attempt on the basket.
Goaltending
Goaltending is a violation that occurs when a player interferes with the ball while it is on its way to the basket. More specifically, goaltending is called when the ball is in a downward flight, entirely above the rim, and has the possibility of entering. In NCAA, WNBA, and NBA basketball, goaltending is also called if the ball has touched the backboard while being above the height of the rim in its flight. If goaltending is called, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made.
Basket Interference
Basket interference, also known as offensive goaltending, occurs during an attempted field goal when a player touches the basket, the rim, or the ball when it is on the rim or directly above it. Like goaltending, basket interference results in points being awarded to the shooting team as if the attempted field goal had been made.
Throw-In Violations
There are several violations that a thrower-in must avoid. These include carrying the ball onto the court, failing to release the ball within 5 seconds, touching the ball on the court before it has touched another player, and stepping on the court over the boundary line before releasing the ball. Violations result in the ball being awarded to the opposing team on the sideline nearest the spot of the violation.
Dribbling Violations
Players are not allowed to dribble a second time after voluntarily ending their first dribble. Additionally, players are not permitted to put their hand under the ball and carry it from one point to another or bring it to a pause and then continue dribbling. Violations of these rules result in the player losing possession of the ball, which is then awarded to the opposing team.
Continuous Possession Violation
A team must not be in continuous possession of a ball in its backcourt for more than 8 consecutive seconds. Violation of this rule results in a loss of possession, with the ball being awarded to the opposing team at the midcourt line.
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Field goal in different basketball leagues
In basketball, a field goal is any shot or tap by a player, excluding free throws, that is worth two or three points, depending on the location of the shot. The term "field" refers to the court. Field goals can be further classified into close-range field goals and perimeter-based field goals. Close-range field goals include sub-types like layups, hook shots, floaters, and slam dunks. Perimeter-based field goals include subtypes like the standard mid-range jump shot, bank shot, fadeaway jump shot, and three-point jump shot.
While the above definition generally applies across different basketball leagues, there are variations in how field goals are valued in certain leagues:
FIBA 3x3 Basketball Competitions
In FIBA 3x3 basketball, close-range field goals and perimeter-based field goals made within the standard three-point line are worth one point. Perimeter-based field goals outside the three-point line are typically worth two points.
BIG3 Basketball League
The BIG3 basketball league, a 3v3 professional league, features an unusual scoring system. Perimeter-based field goals made outside the three-point line are worth four points instead of the standard three.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The NBA follows the standard field goal rules, with close-range field goals typically worth two points and perimeter-based field goals worth three points. The NBA record for the longest successful field goal is held by Baron Davis, who made an 89-foot shot on February 17, 2001.
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
In the WNBA, Diana Taurasi holds the record for the greatest number of field goals in a season. In 2006, she attempted 660 field goals and made 298 of them.
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