
Basketball efficiency is a statistical benchmark used to compare the overall value of players. It is calculated using a combination of basic individual statistics, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and shot attempts. Efficiency in basketball is often denoted as EFF and is calculated by adding positive actions (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracting negative actions (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers). Another commonly used metric is the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger, which strives to measure a player's per-minute performance while adjusting for pace and accounting for both positive and negative results.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What does efficiency mean in basketball? | The sum total of all the positive aspects that can be made on a basketball court, minus all the negative aspects. |
| What does EFF stand for? | Player efficiency |
| What does PER stand for? | Player efficiency rating |
| What is the formula for EFF? | (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP |
| What is the formula for PER? | A detailed formula that rates every player's statistical performance, taking into account positive and negative results. |
| What are some examples of positive results? | Field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals |
| What are some examples of negative results? | Missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls |
| What is the league-average PER? | 15.00 |
| Who are some players with high PERs? | Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis |
| What are some ways to improve efficiency in basketball? | Focusing on shot selection, acquiring the habit of boxing out the rebound, and being careful of shooting fakes |
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What You'll Learn

Positive and negative actions
Positive actions in basketball refer to the sum total of all the positive aspects that can be made on a basketball court. This includes points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For instance, in a game against Ourense in 1995, Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis broke the historical efficiency record in the ACB with 32 points, 27 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists, and 6 fouls received, resulting in a valuation of 66.
On the other hand, negative actions refer to all the negative aspects that occur during a basketball game. This includes missed field goals, missed free throws, turnovers, and shots rejected. For example, turnovers are considered detrimental to a team's performance, as they can lead to chaos in a game if losses are not controlled. Players who take risks and have the ball for longer periods are more likely to lose possession. Therefore, finding a balance between being risky and patient is crucial to avoid negatively impacting efficiency ratings.
Another aspect to consider is shot selection. Choosing the best option for the team rather than focusing solely on individual point scoring can positively affect efficiency. Additionally, defensive actions, such as stealing the ball or cutting passing lanes, are crucial and should be celebrated. However, players should be cautious of shooting fakes and avoid jumping on every opportunity. Analyzing the opponent and playing effective 1-on-1 defense are also important strategies to improve defensive efficiency.
The calculation of efficiency in basketball aims to quantify both the positive and negative actions of players. While the specific formulas may vary, the fundamental concept involves adding up the positive actions and subtracting the negative ones. This results in a comprehensive understanding of a player's performance and their overall value to the team.
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Offensive and defensive contributions
Offensive contributions are primarily associated with point generation and assists. The offensive rating, developed by Dean Oliver, quantifies the number of points produced by a player per hundred total individual possessions. This metric helps understand a player's ability to generate points when they attempt to do so. The calculation considers factors such as scoring possessions, missed field goal possessions, missed free throw possessions, and turnovers.
Defensive contributions, on the other hand, focus on preventing the opposing team from scoring. The defensive rating estimates the number of points a player allows per hundred possessions they individually face while on the court. Defensive stops are a crucial aspect of this calculation, which includes blocks, steals, and defensive rebounds. Additionally, defensive ratings consider forced turnovers and forced misses by the player.
While efficiency calculations aim to include both offensive and defensive aspects, it is generally acknowledged that current statistical measurements favour offensive players. This bias occurs because defence is more challenging to quantify with commonly tabulated statistics. As a result, defensive players may not receive the same recognition in efficiency ratings as their offensive counterparts.
To address this imbalance, alternative metrics like the Defensive Player Rating (DPR) have been introduced. DPR takes into account factors such as a player's time spent on the court, position, competition, pace, and era to evaluate their defensive impact more comprehensively.
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Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
PER is calculated using a detailed formula that rates a player's statistical performance, taking into account both positive and negative results. Positive results include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Negative results include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system.
The league-average PER is always 15.00, which serves as a benchmark for comparing player performance across seasons. A PER of 30 over a few games is considered exceptionally high. The highest PER ever achieved over an entire single season in the NBA was 32.85 by Nikola Jokic in 2021-22.
PER has been criticised for favouring offensive performance over defensive performance, as well as giving undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes. It is not a final evaluation of a player's accomplishments during a season, especially for defensive specialists who may not accumulate many blocks or steals.
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Performance Index Rating (PIR)
The Performance Index Rating (PIR) is a basketball statistical formula used by the Euroleague Basketball Company's first and second-tier competitions, the EuroLeague and the EuroCup, as well as various European national domestic and regional leagues. It is a part of the Tendex basketball rating system. PIR was created in 1991 by the Spanish ACB League, which initially used it to determine the league's MVP of the Week and regular season MVP awards.
The PIR is a total performance metric that calculates using the addition and subtraction of positive and negative game factors. It takes into account positive contributions such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, and negative actions like missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula for calculating PIR is as follows:
PIR = (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks + Fouls Drawn) - (Missed Field Goals + Missed Free Throws + Turnovers + Shots Rejected + Fouls Committed)
For example, a player with the following statistics: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 fouls drawn, 9 missed field goals, 7 missed free throws, 7 turnovers, 9 shots rejected, and 1 foul committed, would have a PIR of 14.
While PIR provides a more comprehensive measure of a player's overall contribution than raw scoring or rebounding numbers, it does not capture all aspects of a player's value, such as defensive positioning or leadership. Critics also argue that PIR does not adjust for total playtime and treats all factors equally without weighting them. Despite these limitations, PIR remains a valuable tool for coaches, analysts, and fans to evaluate player performance beyond traditional metrics.
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Advanced analytics
One such metric is the Player Efficiency Rating or PER, developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. PER is an all-in-one basketball rating that attempts to collect all of a player's contributions into one number. It measures a player's per-minute performance, adjusting for pace and the number of minutes played. The formula for PER adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system. Positive stats include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, while negative stats include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. A league-average PER is always 15, which permits comparisons of player performance across seasons.
Another important metric is the Performance Index Rating or PIR, used in the EuroLeague, its second-tier level competition, the EuroCup, and several European national domestic leagues. The formula for PIR is:
> (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks + Fouls Drawn) - (Missed Field Goals + Missed Free Throws + Turnovers + Shots Rejected + Fouls Committed)
Other advanced analytics used in basketball include:
- Field Goal Percentage (FG%): This metric calculates the percentage of field goals made out of attempted shots, assessing a player's shooting accuracy.
- True Shooting Percentage (TS%): TS% takes into account field goals, three-pointers, and free throws to calculate a player's efficiency at scoring, incorporating the added value of three-pointers.
- Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): eFG% adjusts for the fact that three-point shots are worth more than two-point shots.
- Points per Possession (PPP): PPP measures the number of points a team or player scores per possession, providing a comprehensive view of efficiency.
- Offensive Rating: This metric assesses a team's or player's efficiency at scoring points per 100 possessions, taking into account factors like points scored, field goals made, turnovers, and free throw attempts.
- Defensive Player Rating (DPR): DPR is a stat that shows a player's defensive prowess and in-game ability, taking into account factors such as time spent on the court, position competition, pace, and era.
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Frequently asked questions
Efficiency in basketball is calculated using the formula: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP.
PTS = points, REB = rebounds, AST = assists, STL = steals, BLK = blocks, Missed FG = missed field goals, Missed FT = missed free throws, TO = turnovers, GP = games played.
A PER of 15 is considered average across the league, while a PER of 30 over a few games is considered exceptionally high.
Nikola Jokic achieved a PER of 32.85 in the 2021-22 NBA season, the highest ever recorded. Other notable PERs include Wilt Chamberlain's 31.84 in 1962-63 and Michael Jordan's 31.71 in 1987-88.
DPR (Defensive Player Rating) focuses solely on a player's defensive impact, while efficiency considers both offensive and defensive contributions. PIR (Performance Index Rating) is used in EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions and differs from the EFF formula used in the NBA.











































