NBA Stats Glossary
NBA (aka National Basketball Association) player props glossary: Complete guide to basketball betting stats and abbreviations. Learn essential metrics like PTS, REB, AST, and advanced analytics including USG%, TS%, and Expected Minutes. Master the terminology for informed prop betting analysis on PropsMadness.
Def vs
Defensive Rank vs Position
A ranking that measures how well an opposing team defends against a specific position. A lower rank means the defense allows fewer fantasy points to that position.
Note: Rankings and coloring is done in the context of the competition (Playoffs: worst defense = 16th, Regular season: worst defense = 30th)
Note: Def vs Position: Shows how the opposing team ranks in allowing stats for the selected market (e.g., Pts+Reb+Ast) to players in the same position as the selected player. Adjusts based on the chosen market.
Allowed
Allowed
The volume of stats an opponent allows to a specific position compared to other teams. A lower rank means the defense is tougher — they allow fewer stats to that position.
H2H
Head to Head
A direct competition between two teams
CL
Closing Line
The final odds or point spread set by a sportsbook just before a game begins. It reflects the most up-to-date market information and is commonly used as a benchmark for evaluating bet value.
B2B
Back to Back
Scenario where a team plays games on two consecutive calendar days, such as Friday and Saturday
DPT
Dominant Play Type
The offensive play type a player runs most frequently — isolation, pick-and-roll ball-handler, spot-up, post-up, and others. Identifies matchup advantages when a player's dominant play type exploits a weak defensive scheme or individual defender.
DSZ
Dominant Shooting Zone
The court area from which a player attempts the most shots. Assessing matchup quality against a dominant zone helps gauge a shooter's prop ceiling — defenders who concede high percentages in that zone elevate scoring output.
DAZ
Dominant Assist Zone
The court zone where a player's assisted shots most frequently originate. Helps identify secondary playmakers and understand assist distribution when the primary ball-handler is limited or absent.
PITP
Points in the Paint
Points scored inside the restricted area and paint. Strong predictor for rim-running big men. Also elevated by penetrating guards who draw contact near the basket. Weak interior defenses directly inflate this market.
PTS
Points
A player's total points scored in a game. The most common NBA prop market, driven by shot volume, efficiency, and playing time. Monitor minutes projections and defensive matchups when assessing points props.Formula: 2 × 2PM + 3 × 3PM + FTM
REB
Rebounds
Total offensive + defensive rebounds. Influenced by position, size, team rebounding scheme, and opponent pace. Big men on poor rebounding teams typically lead this market.
AST
Assists
Passes directly leading to a made field goal. High-usage ball-handlers dominate this market. Team pace and whether a player is the primary facilitator both affect assist volume.
STL
Steals
Defensive takeaways without fouling. Highly volatile game to game due to low base rates and opportunistic nature. Best targeted as a parlay leg rather than a standalone market. Active perimeter defenders and gambling point guards lead this category.
BLK
Blocks
Legally deflecting an opponent shot attempt. Among the most volatile per-game statistics. Rim protectors dominate but results swing on opponent shot selection and game flow. Matchups against drive-heavy guards and wings raise block ceilings.
TO
Turnovers
Possessions lost without a shot or free-throw attempt. High-usage ball-handlers and primary initiators accumulate the most. Aggressive defensive opponents, high pace, and isolation-heavy offenses all increase turnover risk.
MIN
Minutes
Actual playing time logged in a game. The foundational input for all volume-based stats — no minutes, no production. Monitor injury news, rotation changes, and blowout risk, which sharply reduces both star and bench player minutes.
Exp. MIN
Expected Minutes
Forward-looking projection of playing time based on recent trends, role, and health status. Used to scale volume stat projections when actual minutes are uncertain. Critical input when roster situations are in flux due to injuries or lineup changes.
Note: Expected Minutes: Use wisely, as projections can be inaccurate due to blowouts, foul trouble, injuries, or unexpected coaching decisions.
3P
Three Pointers Made
Total three-pointers converted in a game. Highly volatile due to inherent shooting variance. Driven primarily by attempt volume rather than percentage over small samples. Target high-3PA shooters in spread-out offenses against weak perimeter defenses.
3PA
Three Point Attempts
Total three-point shots attempted. More consistent and predictive than made threes over small samples. Stable 3PA rates signal a defined role; sudden spikes often regress. Use alongside 3P% to project made-three totals.
FGA
Field Goal Attempts
Total field goal attempts from the field. Core volume metric underlying both scoring and rebounding markets. More predictable than field goals made, making it a foundational input for prop modeling. Usage%, pace, and lineup context all influence FGA.
FG%
Field Goal Percentage
Field goals made divided by field goal attempts. Measures shooting efficiency but ignores volume — FGA is more predictive for prop betting contexts.
FTA
Free Throw Attempts
Total trips to the free-throw line. Driven by attacking style, opponent foul rate, and game script. High-FTA players maintain scoring floors even on poor shooting nights, making FTA a stabilizing factor in points prop projections.
FT%
Free Throw Percentage
Free throws made divided by free throw attempts. Useful for projecting scoring on high-FTA players. Poor free-throw shooters risk intentional fouling (Hack-a-Shaq tactics), which inflates FTA volume while suppressing efficiency and overall point output.
USG%
Usage Percentage
Estimates the share of team plays used by a player while on the floor — shots, free-throw trips, and turnovers. The strongest single predictor of a player's statistical volume across all markets.Formula: 100 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV) ÷ (Team FGA + 0.44 × Team FTA + Team TOV) × (Team MIN ÷ 5 ÷ MIN)
Note: Regular/Playoff filters are Applied to Shotmap and Play Types also
