
In basketball, effectiveness or efficiency ratings are calculated using a variety of metrics that account for a player's or team's overall performance. The most common statistical benchmark for comparing the overall value of players or teams is efficiency, which takes into account both offensive and defensive contributions. There are several ways to calculate efficiency, including the simple EFF formula, which focuses on offences, and the more comprehensive Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger, which attempts to capture all of a player's contributions in one number. PER takes into account positive and negative results, such as field goals, free throws, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls, and adjusts for the pace of the game and playing time. Other metrics used to evaluate efficiency include Field Goal Percentage (FG%), True Shooting Percentage (TS%), Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%), and Points per Possession (PPP). These calculations provide insight into a player's or team's effectiveness at converting scoring opportunities into points while minimising wasted possessions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To determine a player's impact on the game by measuring their per-minute performance |
| Creator | John Hollinger, former Memphis Grizzlies VP of Basketball Operations and current ESPN basketball statistician and analyst |
| Formula | A very complex calculation designed to compensate for different teams' varying styles of play, among other factors |
| Scoring | PER sums up all a player's positive accomplishments, subtracts the negative accomplishments, and returns a per-minute rating of a player's performance |
| Benchmark | A PER of 15 is considered average across the entire league, while a PER of 30 over a few games is considered exceptionally high |
| Limitations | PER largely measures offensive performance and may not be a reliable measure of a player's defensive acumen |
| Alternatives | EFF, OER, DER, PIR, and other metrics like FG%, TS%, eFG%, PPP, and Offensive Rating |
Explore related products
$14.95 $14.95
What You'll Learn

Efficiency (EFF)
Efficiency, or EFF, is a statistical benchmark used to compare the overall value of basketball players. It is a composite statistic derived from basic individual statistics: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and shot attempts.
EFF is a simple formula that sums up a player's positive accomplishments and subtracts the negative ones, giving a per-game rating of their performance. It is calculated as follows:
EFF = (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP
Where:
- PTS = points scored
- REB = rebounds
- AST = assists
- STL = steals
- BLK = blocks
- Missed FG = missed field goals (shots on the basket that are not free throws)
- Missed FT = missed free throws
- TO = turnovers
- GP = games played
The formula was created by Kansas City sports reporter and statistician Martin Manley.
While EFF is a useful metric, it is highly concentrated on offences and does not account for defensive capabilities to the same extent. For this reason, the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger, is often used as an alternative. PER is derived from a more complex calculation that takes into account varying styles of play between teams and other factors.
Fantasy Score Basketball: Strategy, Fun, and Competition
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is an all-in-one basketball rating developed by ESPN basketball statistician and former Memphis Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Hollinger. The rating aims to summarise a player's overall contribution to the team with a single number.
The PER formula is designed to account for the varying styles of play of different teams. It takes into account positive results, such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, and negative results, such as missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system. Each player's rank is then adjusted on a per-minute basis, allowing for comparisons between substitutes and starters. A league-average PER is always 15.00, permitting comparisons of player performance across seasons.
PER is a useful tool for evaluating player careers and their impact on the game. However, it primarily measures offensive performance, and Hollinger acknowledges that the defensive statistics it incorporates, such as blocks and steals, can produce a distorted picture of a player's defensive value. Critics argue that PER gives undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes and undervalues players with a diverse skillset who can play starter's minutes.
While PER is a widely used metric, it is important to recognise that it is just one aspect of evaluating a player's performance and should be considered alongside other factors and analytics.
Badminton Court Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Offensive Efficiency Rating (OER)
> OER = (Points Scored / Shots Taken) x 100
OER is a useful metric for evaluating a player's offensive capabilities and their potential contribution to the team. It provides a more nuanced view of a player's scoring prowess than simple points per game statistics.
While OER specifically focuses on offensive capabilities, there are other metrics that provide a more comprehensive view of a player's overall performance. Efficiency (EFF) is a composite basketball statistic that takes into account both offensive and defensive contributions. The formula for EFF is as follows:
> EFF = (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK - Missed FG - Missed FT - TO) / GP
Another popular metric is the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. PER is derived from a complex calculation that accounts for varying styles of play among different teams. PER scores are considered a more accurate representation of a player's overall value to an NBA franchise. A PER of 15 is considered average, while a PER of 30 over several games is exceptionally high.
These efficiency ratings are valuable tools for players, coaches, and analysts to understand and evaluate player performance and make strategic decisions.
Where to Listen to IU Basketball Tonight
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Defensive Efficiency Rating (DER)
The calculation of DER involves various defensive statistics, such as steals, blocks, deflections, and the ability to withstand the offensive tactics of opposing players. The formula typically accounts for the number of steals and blocks made by a player or team, adjusted by the opponents' scoring differential and the number of defensive possessions.
While DER is a valuable tool, it is essential to acknowledge that defence in basketball is challenging to quantify due to the dynamic nature of the game and the varying styles of play among teams. As a result, DER should be considered alongside other performance indicators and contextual factors to gain a comprehensive understanding of a player's or team's defensive prowess.
One of the challenges in calculating DER is isolating the impact of an individual player's defence from that of their teammates. The defensive rating can be influenced by the collective defence of the team, making it crucial to analyse individual contributions within the broader context of team performance.
Coaches and analysts often utilise DER alongside Offensive Efficiency Rating (OER) to gain a holistic understanding of their team's performance. By comparing these metrics, coaches can identify areas of strength and weakness, make strategic adjustments, and develop targeted training programmes to improve overall performance on the court.
The Ultimate Guide to Badminton Grip Application
You may want to see also
Explore related products

John Hollinger's formula
John Hollinger, former Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, is a renowned basketball analyst known for developing the Player Efficiency Rating (PER) formula. PER is a complex metric designed to evaluate a player's overall performance and impact on the game. It sums up a player's positive and negative accomplishments, providing a per-minute rating adjusted for pace and normalised to a league average of 15.
The formula involves numerous constants and factors that account for different statistical achievements, league averages, and the varying styles of play of different teams. While the exact formula is not publicly available, it is known that each statistic is weighted based on Hollinger's analysis of their relative importance to winning games.
PER is calculated by first computing the unadjusted PER (uPER), which combines all of a player's contributions into a single number. The uPER is then normalised to a league average of 15 using a factor that adjusts for pace and scales the results. This results in the final PER value, which represents the player's overall efficiency rating.
In addition to PER, Hollinger has also developed other advanced basketball statistics such as True Shooting Percentage (TS%) and the Hollinger Game Score. TS% measures a player's efficiency at scoring by accounting for field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws. The Hollinger Game Score provides an approximate measure of a player's single-game productivity, with 40 representing an outstanding performance and 10 being average.
John Hollinger's PER formula has had a significant impact on basketball analytics, influencing how players, teams, and games are evaluated and understood. It showcases how data and analytics can provide new insights and strategies in professional sports.
Gripping Basics: Basketball Shoes and Stick Handling
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
EFF, or Efficiency, is a simple formula that calculates a player's total value to a basketball team. It is calculated by adding up the positives and subtracting the negatives. However, it is highly concentrated on offenses and does not consider defensive contributions as much. On the other hand, PER, or Player Efficiency Rating, is a more complex calculation that takes into account a player's per-minute performance and adjusts for the varying styles of play of different teams.
The PER was developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. It is calculated by summing up a player's positive accomplishments, subtracting the negative accomplishments, and returning a per-minute rating of a player’s performance. PER takes into account positive results such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, and negative results such as missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls.
Basketball scoring efficiency refers to a player's effectiveness at converting scoring opportunities into points while minimizing wasted possessions. Some common metrics used to calculate scoring efficiency include Field Goal Percentage (FG%), True Shooting Percentage (TS%), and Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%). FG% calculates the percentage of field goals made out of attempted shots, while TS% takes into account field goals, three-pointers, and free throws to calculate a player's efficiency at scoring. eFG% is similar to FG% but adjusts for the fact that three-point shots are worth more than two-point shots.



























