NBA First Basket Stats & Leaders

This leaderboard ranks NBA players by total first baskets scored across all games in the selected season. First basket bets are a popular NBA prop market where you predict which player will score the game's opening points. Use this data to identify consistent first scorers - players who frequently get early touches and have the green light to shoot. The FB Rate shows what percentage of games a player scores the first basket when in the starting lineup. The How They Scored It column counts each first basket by method: layup, dunk, jumper, floater, hook, three-pointer or free throw.

Team-level statistics showing how often each NBA team wins the opening tip-off and scores the first point or first field goal. Tip % shows how often a team wins the opening jump ball - a key factor since the team with first possession has the first chance to score. First Point % includes free throws (from technical fouls or flagrants), while First FG % only counts made field goals. Compare tip % and first basket percentages to identify teams that win the tip but fail to convert, or teams that score first despite losing the tip. Teams with dominant centers who consistently win tip-offs have a natural advantage in first basket markets.

Each NBA game's opening score, split by method. First Point counts free throws. First FG skips them and counts the first made field goal, which is how some sportsbooks settle first basket bets. A layup counts finger rolls, tip-ins and putbacks. A jumper counts pull-ups, fadeaways and step-backs inside the arc.

Team First Point Method

How each team scores its own first point of the game, as a share of its games. The top method is highlighted.

Track each team's recent first basket performance over their last 10 games. Recent form often matters more than season-long averages - teams on hot streaks with confident opening plays tend to continue scoring first. Teams labeled HOT (60%+ first point rate) are worth considering, while COLD teams (30% or below) may be worth fading. The top scorers shown for each team indicate which players have been getting the first bucket recently, helping you identify the best first basket prop targets for upcoming games.

Different sportsbooks have different rules for what counts as the "first basket." Some books count free throws, while others only count field goals. This affects your betting strategy - if you're betting on a player who often scores first via free throws, make sure your book counts them! See which sportsbooks count free throws as first basket below.

Free Throws COUNT as First Basket

Only Field Goals Count (No Free Throws)