The term 'HOOPS STATISTIC' is a crossword solution that can be completed with the word 'ASSIST, ' which is a 6-letter word. An ASSIST is a statistic in basketball that is awarded to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that the passer effectively contributed to the scoring play. Assists have been an official statistic since the 1983-84 NBA season.