In the NBA, a good eFG% is typically above 54%. An eFG% of 51-54% is considered about league average, while anything above 57% is excellent. The exact numbers can vary slightly by season.

Why is eFG% better than regular Field Goal Percentage?

Effective Field Goal Percentage is a more accurate measure of shooting efficiency because it accounts for the extra value of a three-point shot. Standard FG% treats all made baskets equally, which undervalues proficient three-point shooters.

eFG% Calculator (Effective Field Goal Percentage)

What is Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)? 🏀

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) is an advanced basketball statistic that adjusts for the fact that a three-point shot is worth 50% more than a two-point shot. It answers the question: "If we account for the added value of 3-pointers, how efficient is a player's shooting?"

For example, a player who shoots 3-for-6 on three-pointers (9 points) is far more valuable than a player who shoots 3-for-6 on two-pointers (6 points). Standard FG% (50% for both) misses this nuance, but eFG% captures it perfectly.

How is eFG% Calculated?

The formula gives extra weight to three-pointers:

eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) / FGA

eFG% vs. True Shooting Percentage (TS%): What's the Difference?

While eFG% is a massive improvement over traditional FG%, it still has one blind spot: **free throws**. This is where True Shooting Percentage (TS%) comes in.

eFG% measures a player's shooting efficiency purely from the field (2-pointers and 3-pointers). It is the best metric for evaluating pure shooting.
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) measures a player's *overall scoring efficiency* by incorporating points from two-pointers, three-pointers, AND free throws.

A player who gets to the free-throw line frequently will have a TS% that is significantly higher than their eFG%. For an official breakdown of these advanced stats, you can visit the NBA.com stats glossary.

Applications and Historical Context

Understanding eFG% is crucial for modern basketball analysis.

Practical Applications: Coaches and analysts use eFG% to evaluate both individual players and team-wide offensive strategy. A high team eFG% indicates efficient shot selection. Defensively, forcing opponents into a low eFG% is a primary goal. To see which players are leading the league in efficiency and get the latest NBA analysis, you can Read Sports News at No Sport Nation.
Historical Context: The concept of eFG% was popularized by analyst Dean Oliver in his book, Basketball on Paper. Its adoption coincided with the NBA's three-point revolution. As noted on sites like Basketball-Reference, the league-average eFG% has steadily climbed as teams have built their offenses around the mathematically superior value of the three-point shot.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a good eFG%?

In today's NBA, the benchmarks are generally as follows:

Above 57%: Excellent
54% - 57%: Very Good
51% - 54%: League Average
Below 51%: Below Average

Can a player's eFG% be higher than their FG%?

Yes, absolutely. Any time a player makes at least one three-pointer, their eFG% will be higher than their regular FG%. This is the entire point of the metric: to give players credit for the added value of the three-point shot.

Does eFG% account for free throws?

No, eFG% does not include free throws in its calculation. The statistic that incorporates free throws for a complete picture of scoring efficiency is True Shooting Percentage (TS%).