A field goal attempt (FGA) in basketball represents any shot taken by a player during live play that is intended to score points, excluding free throws. But whether it is a thunderous dunk, a graceful mid-range jumper, a desperate heave at the buzzer, or a layup rolling off the fingertips, every single one counts as an attempt the moment the ball leaves the shooter’s hand with the intention of scoring. Understanding this statistic is fundamental to evaluating offensive efficiency, player roles, and team strategy, serving as the denominator in the critical field goal percentage (FG%) calculation Nothing fancy..
The Definition and Scope of a Field Goal Attempt
At its core, the rulebook definition is straightforward: a field goal attempt is charged to a player when they shoot the ball toward their opponent’s basket during a live ball situation. That said, the nuance lies in what does not count. Free throws are tracked separately as free throw attempts (FTA). Worth adding: shots taken after a whistle has blown—such as a player casually tossing the ball toward the hoop after a foul call—are not recorded. Similarly, if a player shoots the ball but a teammate commits an offensive foul (like a moving screen or charge) before the ball goes in, the attempt is wiped off the ledger entirely, as the play is treated as a turnover rather than a shot Turns out it matters..
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing.
The statistic encompasses all two-point and three-point shots. But there is no distinction in the "attempts" column between a shot taken from the paint and one launched from thirty feet away; both increment the FGA counter by one. The differentiation happens in the "makes" column (FGM) and the subsequent calculation of effective field goal percentage (eFG%), which weights three-pointers more heavily to reflect their added value Still holds up..
You'll probably want to bookmark this section Simple, but easy to overlook..
How Official Scorers Track Attempts
The responsibility for tracking FGAs falls on the official scorer sitting at the scorer’s table. On top of that, the scorer must determine intent. Think about it: this role requires sharp judgment and a deep understanding of the rulebook. If a player is driving to the basket, gets fouled hard, and flings the ball toward the rim in a motion that looks more like a pass or a loss of control than a shot, the scorer may rule it "no attempt" and simply charge a turnover or a foul drawn, depending on the sequence.
Conversely, an "alley-oop" pass that the receiver fails to catch but touches near the rim presents a gray area. If the official scorer judges the passer was attempting a shot (a rare but possible scenario), it counts as an FGA for the passer. More commonly, if the receiver touches the ball in a shooting motion, the attempt is charged to the receiver. These judgment calls highlight that statistics are not purely objective data points; they are interpreted events recorded in real-time.
The Relationship Between FGA and Efficiency Metrics
Raw attempt numbers tell you volume, but they require context to reveal value. The primary metric derived from FGAs is Field Goal Percentage (FG%), calculated simply as Field Goals Made (FGM) divided by Field Goal Attempts (FGA).
$ FG% = \frac{FGM}{FGA} $
Still, modern analytics have largely moved toward Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) and True Shooting Percentage (TS%) And that's really what it comes down to..
- eFG% adjusts for the fact that a three-pointer is worth 50% more than a two-pointer. $ eFG% = \frac{FGM + (0.5 \times 3PM)}{FGA} $
- TS% goes a step further by incorporating free throw attempts (FTA) into the denominator, estimating the total points scored per shooting possession. $ TS% = \frac{Points}{2 \times (FGA + 0.44 \times FTA)} $
A player with a high FGA count but a low FG% is often labeled a "volume shooter" or "chucker" if the attempts aren't generating efficient offense. So conversely, a player with a high FG% on low attempts might be a high-efficiency role player (like a rim-running center) who doesn't create their own shots. The "sweet spot" for star players is usually a high usage rate (high FGA relative to team total) combined with an above-average eFG% or TS% Not complicated — just consistent..
Not the most exciting part, but easily the most useful.
Contextualizing Attempts: Shot Quality and Location
Not all field goal attempts are created equal. Analytics departments and coaches break down FGAs by shot location zones to diagnose offensive health:
- Restricted Area / Rim Attempts: Shots within 4 feet of the basket. These typically yield the highest FG% (often 60-75%). High volume here indicates good penetration, offensive rebounding, or effective pick-and-roll play.
- Mid-Range Attempts: Shots between the restricted area and the three-point line. Historically the least efficient shots in basketball (league average often hovers around 38-42%). Modern offenses actively try to reduce FGA volume from this zone.
- Three-Point Attempts: Shots beyond the arc (22 ft in corners, 23 ft 9 in above the break). While the raw FG% is lower (~35-37%), the points per attempt is higher due to the extra point. The "Three-Point Revolution" is essentially a league-wide strategy to shift FGA distribution from mid-range to the three-point line and the rim.
A team taking 90 FGAs in a game with 40 of them from three-point range and 30 at the rim is generally executing a more mathematically sound offense than a team taking 90 FGAs with 30 mid-range shots and only 15 threes, even if the total attempt count is identical.
The "Usage Rate" and Offensive Load
Field goal attempts are the primary fuel for Usage Rate (USG%), an advanced metric estimating the percentage of team plays a player consumes while on the floor. The formula incorporates FGA, FTA, and Turnovers Which is the point..
$ USG% = 100 \times \frac{(FGA + 0.44 \times FTA + TOV) \times (Team Minutes / 5)}{Player Minutes \times (Team FGA + 0.44 \times Team FTA + Team TOV)} $
A superstar like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, or Luka Dončić typically carries a USG% above 30%, meaning they "use" a massive chunk of the team's possessions via shot attempts (and free throws/turnovers). Understanding a player's FGA volume relative to their efficiency (TS%) is the quickest way to assess if they are helping or hurting the offense. Role players might sit between 15-20%. A player taking 20 shots a game (high FGA) but scoring only 18 points (low efficiency) is actively damaging the team's ceiling, whereas a player taking 12 shots for 20 points is providing immense surplus value That alone is useful..
Special Situations: Blocked Shots, Fouls, and Shot Clock Violations
Several specific game scenarios confuse fans regarding whether an FGA is recorded:
- Blocked Shots: Yes, it counts as an FGA. If a defender legally deflects the ball after it has left the shooter's hand on a clear shooting motion, the shooter is charged with an attempt (and a miss), and the defender gets a block.
- Shooting Fouls (Missed Shot): Yes, it counts as an FGA. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting and misses the basket, they are charged with an FGA. They then shoot free throws. If they make the shot, they are charged with an FGA and credited with an FGM (the "And-One").
- Shooting Fouls (Continuation): If a player gathers the ball to shoot, is fouled, and releases the
