eFG Calculator

eFG stands for effective field goal percentage, a shooting efficiency metric that adjusts for the fact that three-point baskets are worth 1.5 times more than two-point baskets. The calculation adds half the value of made three-pointers to total field goals made, then divides by field goal attempts. This provides a more accurate picture of scoring efficiency than regular field goal percentage, which treats all baskets equally regardless of point value. The metric is widely used in professional basketball analytics to evaluate player and team offensive performance.

Calculate eFG% using the formula: (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) / FGA. First, count all field goals made (FGM), including both two-pointers and three-pointers. Next, identify how many three-pointers were made (3PM) and multiply that number by 0.5. Add that result to your total field goals made. Finally, divide by total field goal attempts (FGA). For example, if you make 8 field goals with 3 three-pointers out of 20 attempts, your eFG% equals (8 + 0.5 × 3) / 20 = 9.5 / 20 = 47.5%.

A good eFG% varies by position and role. For NBA players, centers and power forwards should target 55-60% eFG% since they take mostly high-percentage shots near the rim. Wings and shooting guards need 50-54% eFG% to be considered efficient. Point guards who create contested shots can be effective at 48-52% eFG%. League average sits around 53-54%. Anything above 55% indicates elite shooting efficiency regardless of position. Below 48% signals inefficient scoring that hurts team offense.

Yes, eFG% provides better shooting efficiency evaluation than regular FG% because it accounts for shot difficulty and point value. Regular FG% treats a made three-pointer the same as a made two-pointer, even though threes score 50% more points. This creates misleading comparisons between players with different shot selection. A guard shooting 40% from three-point range (1.2 points per attempt) scores more efficiently than a big man shooting 50% on two-pointers (1.0 points per attempt). eFG% captures this reality by weighting three-pointers appropriately, making it superior for comparing offensive efficiency across different playing styles.

eFG% only measures field goal efficiency, while true shooting percentage (TS%) includes free throws. The eFG% formula uses made field goals and attempts, giving extra weight to three-pointers. TS% adds free throw attempts to the equation, providing comprehensive scoring efficiency that includes all three ways to score in basketball. Players who draw fouls and shoot free throws well show much better TS% than eFG%. James Harden typically has 52-54% eFG% but 60%+ TS% because he excels at drawing fouls and converting free throws. Use eFG% to evaluate pure shooting; use TS% for complete scoring analysis.

No, eFG% cannot exceed 100%. The maximum possible eFG% is 100%, achieved by making every single field goal attempt. Even if you only shoot three-pointers and make all of them, your eFG% equals 100%—not 150%. The formula adjusts for shot value by adding 0.5 per made three-pointer, but this adjustment happens in the numerator before dividing by total attempts. Making 10 three-pointers on 10 attempts yields (10 + 0.5 × 10) / 10 = 15 / 10 = 150% in raw calculation, but this means you scored 1.5 times as efficiently as a perfect two-point shooter—not that you exceeded perfection.

NBA teams use eFG% to optimize shot selection and evaluate offensive efficiency. Modern analytics departments prioritize maximizing team eFG% by eliminating long two-pointers—the least efficient shots—and emphasizing three-pointers and rim attempts. Teams track opponent eFG% to measure defensive effectiveness. Coaches design plays to generate high-eFG% shots: corner threes, transition layups, and wide-open looks. Front offices value players who maintain high eFG% on volume shooting, indicating they can score efficiently without relying solely on wide-open attempts. Lineup decisions often hinge on which combinations produce the highest offensive eFG% while limiting opponent eFG%.

Defensive eFG% measures how efficiently opponents shoot against your team's defense. Calculate it the same way as offensive eFG% but use opponent statistics instead. Elite defensive teams hold opponents below 51% eFG% by contesting shots, forcing difficult attempts, and protecting the rim. Poor defenses allow 54%+ eFG%, giving up too many open threes or easy layups. Defensive eFG% reveals more than opponent FG% alone because it accounts for three-point defense separately. A team allowing 48% FG might seem solid, but if opponents make threes at high rates, defensive eFG% could still be terrible at 54-55%.

No, eFG% doesn't directly measure shot difficulty—it only adjusts for point value differences between twos and threes. A contested three-pointer and a wide-open three both count identically in the eFG% formula. This limitation means comparing eFG% between players requires context about shot creation burden. A player with 52% eFG% who creates all their own shots against set defenses demonstrates different skill than a role player with 58% eFG% finishing only wide-open looks created by teammates. Advanced metrics like expected eFG% (based on shot location and defender distance) help quantify shot difficulty, but standard eFG% calculations treat all threes equally and all twos equally.

High-usage players often post lower eFG% because they take more difficult shots late in the shot clock when teammates can't create better looks. When primary scorers dominate the ball, defenses focus attention on stopping them specifically, leading to more contested attempts. End-of-shot-clock situations force these players into low-percentage attempts that tank efficiency. Additionally, high-volume scorers attempt more pull-up jumpers and isolation shots—inherently harder conversions than catch-and-shoot attempts. Role players with high eFG% typically benefit from taking only the easiest shots their teammates create. Evaluate high-usage scorers' eFG% against other primary options, not spot-up shooters.

League-wide eFG% has increased significantly as teams attempt more three-pointers. In the 1990s, NBA teams averaged 48-49% eFG% while attempting 13-16 threes per game. By the 2020s, league average eFG% reached 53-54% with teams launching 35-40 threes per game. This increase reflects two factors: teams taking more of the shots that boost eFG% (threes and layups) while eliminating mid-range twos, and improved floor spacing creating better shot quality overall. Individual player eFG% comparisons across eras require context—a 55% eFG% in 1998 indicated more elite shooting than 55% eFG% in 2024 due to different league environments.

Yes, in certain contexts. A player with 58% eFG% who never creates their own shot and only finishes wide-open attempts provides limited offensive value despite efficient shooting. When defenses key in or teammates can't create those easy looks, that player becomes a liability. Additionally, eFG% ignores turnovers—a player with great shooting efficiency but constant turnovers still hurts team offense. eFG% also excludes free throw creation; a player with 54% eFG% who never gets to the foul line contributes less than someone with 52% eFG% who draws fouls and shoots 85% from the stripe. For complete offensive evaluation, combine eFG% with turnover rate, free throw rate, and shot creation ability.