Basketball Stats Calculator

How the Basketball Stats Calculator Works

Basketball shooting efficiency statistics are advanced metrics that evaluate how effectively a player converts scoring opportunities, accounting for the different values of two-point field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws. According to Basketball Reference, the definitive online source for NBA statistics, these metrics have become the standard evaluation tools used by coaches, scouts, and front offices at every level from high school AAU to the NBA. This calculator computes FG%, 3PT%, FT%, True Shooting Percentage, and Effective FG% instantly from your raw box score data.

These metrics go beyond simple counting stats to reveal how efficiently a player scores. Two players can both score 20 points per game, but the one with a higher True Shooting Percentage is doing it on fewer possessions, making them significantly more valuable to their team. The NBA's average scoring efficiency has risen from about 54% TS% in 2000 to approximately 57% TS% in 2024, driven largely by the analytics revolution that also transformed baseball evaluation.

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) Explained

True Shooting Percentage is widely considered the single best measure of scoring efficiency in basketball. The formula is: TS% = Points / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA)). The 0.44 coefficient for free throw attempts accounts for the fact that not all free throws come from shooting fouls (and-ones, technical free throws, and three-shot fouls change the expected number of free throws per trip to the line).

TS% properly weights the value of each shot type. A three-pointer is worth 50% more than a two-pointer, and free throws are the most efficient shot in basketball (league-average FT% is roughly 77%, meaning each free throw is worth about 0.77 points at zero field goal cost). A player who gets to the free throw line frequently and hits three-pointers will have a higher TS% than a player who takes mostly long two-pointers, even if their FG% is similar.

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)

Effective FG% adjusts traditional field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals are worth more than two-point field goals. The formula is: eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA. The 0.5 multiplier gives three-pointers a 50% bonus to reflect their extra point value.

Consider two players: Player A shoots 8-for-18 with 0 three-pointers (44.4% FG, 44.4% eFG, 16 points). Player B shoots 8-for-18 with 4 three-pointers (44.4% FG, 55.6% eFG, 20 points). Their FG% is identical, but Player B scored 4 more points on the same number of attempts. eFG% captures this difference where traditional FG% misses it entirely.

Usage Rate and Its Impact on Efficiency

Usage Rate estimates the percentage of team possessions a player uses while on the floor (through field goal attempts, free throw attempts, and turnovers). The simplified formula is: Usage% = ((FGA + 0.44 x FTA + TOV) x Team Minutes) / (Minutes Played x Team Possessions). League-average usage is about 20% (five players sharing possessions equally). Star scorers typically have a 28-35% usage rate.

Efficiency and volume exist in tension. Nearly every player's TS% and eFG% decline as usage increases because higher usage means taking more difficult shots. A player posting a 65% TS% on 15% usage (a role player taking only open shots) is less impressive than a player posting 60% TS% on 30% usage (a primary scorer creating his own shot against focused defensive attention). The most valuable scorers maintain elite efficiency at high volume — players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic have sustained 62%+ TS% at 28%+ usage rates.

Shot Selection and the Analytics Revolution

Modern basketball analytics have fundamentally changed how teams value different shot types. The expected points per shot for common shot types are approximately: layups/dunks (1.20-1.30), corner three-pointers (1.10-1.20), above-the-break three-pointers (1.05-1.10), free throws (~1.54 for two-shot foul), short mid-range jumpers (0.80-0.90), and long mid-range jumpers (0.75-0.85). This is why the mid-range jumper has nearly disappeared from the NBA — it is the least efficient shot in basketball unless a player converts at an unusually high rate.

The practical implication for players at all levels: prioritize shots at the rim, three-pointers, and free throws. A player who converts 35% of three-point attempts (1.05 points per shot) is more efficient than a player who converts 45% of long two-pointers (0.90 points per shot). This calculator helps you quantify exactly how efficient your shot selection is by comparing your TS% and eFG% to these benchmarks.

Beyond Shooting: The Complete Box Score

While this calculator focuses on shooting efficiency, a complete player evaluation includes rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers. The assist-to-turnover ratio measures playmaking efficiency — a ratio above 2.0 is considered good for a point guard. Rebound rate (offensive and defensive) measures rebounding dominance relative to available rebounds. Steal and block rates measure defensive impact per possession rather than per game, which adjusts for playing time differences.

Player Efficiency Rating (PER), created by John Hollinger, attempts to combine all box score statistics into a single number. A PER of 15.0 is league average. Values of 20+ are All-Star caliber, 25+ is MVP level, and 30+ represents a historically dominant season. However, PER has limitations — it undervalues defense, overvalues volume scorers, and relies entirely on box score data, missing intangibles like spacing, screen quality, and defensive positioning.