Usage Percentage (USG%) is a statistical metric used in basketball analytics to measure the proportion of team plays that a player uses while on the court. It quantifies a player’s involvement in offensive possessions and indicates how much a team relies on that player to generate Scoring opportunities.

Here’s an explanation of USG% and its significance in fantasy basketball:

1. Calculation: USG% is calculated using the following formula:
   \text{USG%} = \frac{\text{Player’s Field Goal Attempts} + \text{Player’s Free Throw Attempts} + \text{Player’s Turnovers}}{\text{Total Team’s Field Goal Attempts} + \text{Total Team’s Free Throw Attempts} + \text{Total Team’s Turnovers}} \times 100

   This formula considers a player’s field goal attempts, free throw attempts, and turnovers, divided by the team’s total field goal attempts, free throw attempts, and turnovers, multiplied by 100 to express the result as a percentage.

2. Player Utilization: USG% indicates how involved a player is in their team’s offensive strategies. A higher USG% suggests that a player is heavily involved in creating scoring opportunities, while a lower USG% indicates a lesser role in the offense.
3. Scoring Responsibility: Players with high USG% values typically have a significant responsibility for scoring points for their team. They are often primary scoring options and are expected to take more shots and create offensive plays.
4. Fantasy Basketball Application: In fantasy basketball, USG% helps managers evaluate a player’s offensive involvement and scoring potential. Players with high USG% values are likely to accumulate more points, assists, and other scoring-related statistics, making them valuable assets for fantasy teams.
5. Risk of Turnovers: While high USG% players can provide significant offensive production, they may also be prone to turnovers due to their increased involvement in plays. Fantasy managers should consider both the scoring potential and turnover risk when assessing players based on their USG%.
6. Team Context: USG% should be interpreted in the context of a player’s team dynamics and playing style. Some players may have high USG% values because they are the primary scoring options on their team, while others may have lower USG% values due to sharing offensive responsibilities with teammates.