The journey of learning a language is full of twists and turns, yet one of the most confusing aspects that can arise, particularly as they often don’t appear in basic dictionaries, is abbreviations. You’ll come across them in international relations – NATO, WHO, UNESCO – and you’ll come across them in medicine & science – MRSA, COPD, ER – and many other walks of life. But one area where abbreviations can feel like an overload is in sports.
Sports fans, especially those interested in statistics, will come across a large number of abbreviations, perhaps more than any other cultural pursuit. If we take basketball, specifically the NBA (National Basketball Association), as an example, even casual fans will encounter dozens and dozens of abbreviations. It can be confusing – overwhelming, even – but there is also a logic to it, which helps make it easier over time.
Below, we attempt to highlight most of the major NBA terms that are used as abbreviations:
Common player position abbreviations
PG: Point Guard
Usually, the lead ball-handler and organizer.
SG: Shooting Guard
Often a perimeter scorer or secondary creator.
SF: Small Forward
A wing player who may score, defend, and rebound.
PF: Power Forward
Usually a bigger forward who plays inside and outside.
C: Center
Typically, the tallest player is often focused on rim protection and rebounding.
G: Guard
General label for backcourt players.
F: Forward
General label for frontcourt wing/big players.
F-C: Forward-Center
Player who can play both forward and center.
G-F: Guard-Forward
Player who can play both guard and forward.
Team record and standings abbreviations
W: Wins
Number of games won.
L: Losses
Number of games lost.
PCT: Winning Percentage
Win rate.
GB: Games Behind
How far a team trails another in the standings.
CONF: Conference
Eastern or Western Conference standing.
DIV: Division
Standing within a division.
HOME: Home Record
Wins and losses at home.
ROAD: Road Record
Wins and losses away from home.
STRK: Streak
Current winning or losing run.
Common NBA competition terms
MVP: Most Valuable Player
A huge market for NBA betting. The award for the best regular-season player.
DPOY: Defensive Player of the Year
Award for the top defender.
ROTY: Rookie of the Year
Award for the top first-year player.
MIP: Most Improved Player
Award for the player judged to have improved the most.
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6MOY: Sixth Man of the Year
Award for the best bench player.
COY: Coach of the Year
Award for the top coach.
ECF: Eastern Conference Finals
Final playoff round in the East.
WCF: Western Conference Finals
Final playoff round in the West.
NBA Finals: Championship series
Final series between East and West champions.
Basic game stats
PTS: Points
Total points scored.
REB: Rebounds
Total rebounds collected.
AST: Assists
Passes leading directly to a made basket.
STL: Steals
Times a player takes the ball away from the opponent.
BLK: Blocks
Shots a player deflects or rejects.
TO or TOV: Turnovers
Times a player loses possession.
PF: Personal Fouls
Fouls committed by a player.
MP: Minutes played.
FGM: Field Goals Made
Total made shots from the field.
FGA: Field Goals Attempted
Total shots taken from the field.
3PM: Three-Point Field Goals Made
Made shots from beyond the arc.
3PA: Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
Three-point shots attempted.
FTM: Free Throws Made
Free throws converted.
FTA: Free Throws Attempted
Free throws taken.
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