In basketball statistics, USG stands for Usage Rate, which represents the percentage of a team’s possessions that a player uses. It indicates how often a player is involved in a play that ends a possession, either by shooting, turning the ball over, or getting fouled. It’s not directly about the number of possessions per 40 minutes, but rather the proportion of possessions a player is involved in. 

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

• USG% (Usage Percentage): This is a more common term than „USG“ and is calculated as a percentage. It shows what proportion of a team’s possessions a player uses. 

Formula:

The formula for USG% involves field goal attempts, free throw attempts, turnovers, and possessions adjusted for team and league pace. 

Possessions:

Possessions are estimated using a formula that considers field goal attempts, free throw attempts, offensive rebounds, and turnovers, providing a measure of how often a team controls the ball, according to FastModel Sports. 

Pace:

Pace refers to the number of possessions a team uses per game. 

Relationship to USG%:

A higher USG% indicates a player is more involved in the team’s offensive plays.