Kristian Ferrell
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 or the basketball field refers to the court. Field goals can be close-range shots near the basket or perimeter-based shots further away from the basket. The percentage of basketball field goals made is an important statistic in determining some of the best players in basketball.
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What You'll Learn
Field goal scoring
Field goals can be classified into two primary types: close-range field goals and perimeter-based field goals. Close-range field goals are attempts made near the basket and include subtypes such as layups, hook shots, floaters, slam dunks, and alley-oops. Perimeter-based field goals are attempts made further away from the basket and include subtypes like the standard mid-range jump shot, bank shot, fadeaway jump shot, and three-point jump shot. Close-range field goals are usually prioritized over perimeter-based field goals by coaches.
The percentage of field goals made is a crucial statistic in evaluating players' performance and skills. It is calculated by dividing the number of field goals made by the number attempted, then multiplying by 100. For instance, a player with a 40% field goal percentage has made four out of ten attempts. A high field goal percentage usually indicates a player's ability to score double digits in points per game. Effective field goal percentage, which takes into account the added difficulty of three-pointers, can also be calculated.
Some of the greatest field goal shooters in NBA history include Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the top four spots for most field goals made in a season, Michael Jordan, who led the NBA in field goals made ten times, and Shaquille O'Neal, who has the record for most seasons with the best field goal percentage. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also notable, holding the record for most field goals made in a career.
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Field goal types
A field goal in basketball is any shot, other than a free throw, that is attempted by a player. It is a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the location of the attempt on the basket. The term "field" or "the basketball field" refers to the court, hence the name field goal. Field goals can be classified by any shot taken from the court, whether it be a layup or a three-point shot.
Field goal shots consist of two primary 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 also feature different subtypes such as the layup, the hook shot, the floater, the slam dunk, and the alley-oop action. Layups are a basic type of field goal where 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 another type of close-range field goal where a player jumps near the basket with possession of the ball, throwing it down through the basket while airborne.
Perimeter-based field goal shots include multiple subtypes such as the standard mid-range jump shot, the bank shot, the fadeaway jump shot, and the three-point jump shot. A jump shot is a simple and basic type of field goal, but they can also take on many different forms such as layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins. A tip-in refers to when a player misses their shot and taps the ball into the hoop as it is rolling off the rim, counting as one point.
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Field goal statistics
In basketball, a field goal is defined as any shot or tap other than a free throw, which is 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 goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in their rule book, box scores, and statistics, as well as in referees' rulings. The same term is also used by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and in high school basketball.
Field goal percentage is a crucial individual statistic in basketball, with players having a high field goal percentage often averaging double digits in points per game. This percentage is calculated by taking the number of field goals made and dividing it by the number attempted, then multiplying by 100. For example, a player who made 4 out of 10 shots has a field goal percentage of 40%. This statistic is vital for teams when evaluating players they might want to draft or trade for. While a high field goal percentage generally indicates a skilled player, it does not tell the whole story, as a low field goal percentage could indicate a player who takes many difficult shots.
Field goals can be classified by any shot taken from the court, including layups and three-point shots. When coaches and announcers refer to high-percentage field goals, they are typically talking about layups and dunks, which have the highest probability of being successful.
Some notable players with impressive field goal statistics 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 is also considered one of the greatest field goal shooters of all time, leading the NBA in field goals made ten times. Shaquille O'Neal holds the record for the highest career field goal percentage at around 58%, while DeAndre Jordan has the highest career field goal percentage at 67.4%. In the WNBA, Diana Taurasi holds the record for the greatest number of field goals in a season, with 298 out of 660 field goals attempted in 2006.
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Field goal violations
Basketball is considered one of the most difficult sports to officiate due to the fast pace of the game, the complex rules, and the need for instantaneous judgement. Field goals refer to any basket scored during gameplay, and they can be worth two or three points, depending on where the shot was taken. A team wins by scoring more field goals than their opponents.
There are several violations and fouls that can occur during a basketball game, which can result in penalties, free throws, or changes in possession. Here are some examples of field goal violations:
Goaltending
Goaltending is a violation that occurs when a player interferes with the ball while it is on its way to the basket. Specifically, goaltending is called when the ball is in a downward flight, entirely above the rim, and has the possibility of entering the basket without touching the rim. Goaltending can also occur in high school and NCAA basketball when a player interferes with a free throw at any point in its flight towards the basket. 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 is a related violation to goaltending and is sometimes called offensive goaltending. It occurs when a player touches the basket, rim, or ball when it is on the rim or directly above it during an attempted field goal. Like goaltending, basket interference results in points being awarded to the shooting team as if the field goal attempt had been successful.
Backcourt Violation
A backcourt violation occurs when the offense brings the ball across the mid-court line and then crosses back over the line during their possession.
Out of Bounds
The ball must stay within the court, and if it goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it forfeits possession. The ball is considered out of bounds if it touches a boundary line or any player/object that is out of bounds.
Personal Fouls
Personal fouls are violations that involve illegal physical contact with an opposing player. This includes pushing, blocking, or striking another player, especially during the act of shooting. Personal fouls can result in free throw attempts for the fouled player and potential technical fouls for the offending player or coach.
Technical Fouls
Technical fouls are penalties for violating the administrative rules of the game, such as fighting, verbal abuse, or unsportsmanlike conduct. Technical fouls can result in free throws, changes in possession, or ejection from the game if multiple technical fouls are committed by the same person.
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Field goal terminology
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 depends on the location of the attempt on the basket and the type of game being played. Typically, a field goal is worth two or three points. However, in some cases, such as in FIBA 3x3 basketball competitions, a field goal may be worth one point, and in the BIG3 basketball league, it can be worth four points.
The term "field goal" is used officially in the rulebooks, box scores, and statistics of leagues such as the NBA, NCAA, and high school basketball. The term refers to any shot attempt made by a player during a game, excluding free throws. Field goals can be further classified into two primary types: close-range field goals and perimeter-based field goals. Close-range field goals, such as layups, hook shots, floaters, and slam dunks, are attempted near the basket. Perimeter-based field goals, such as mid-range jump shots, bank shots, fadeaway jump shots, and three-point jump shots, are taken from a greater distance.
Field goal percentage is a crucial statistic in basketball, used to evaluate players' performance and skill level. It is calculated by dividing the number of field goals made by the number of field goals attempted, multiplied by 100. For example, a player who made 4 out of 10 field goal attempts has a field goal percentage of 40%. Players with higher field goal percentages are generally considered more proficient scorers.
When a team misses a field goal attempt, the opposing team may gain possession of the basketball through a defensive rebound. This allows them to execute quick offensive strategies or set plays before the other team can establish their defence. Additionally, field goal attempts can result in violations such as goaltending and basket interference.
The term "field" in "field goal" refers to the court or playing area. While the specific terminology of basketball can be overwhelming for new fans, understanding the basic concepts and definitions, such as field goals, is essential for following the game, evaluating player performance, and making strategic decisions.
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