Ayrton Oneill
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a system created by John Hollinger to evaluate basketball players. It uses a detailed formula to rate a player's statistical performance, taking into account positive and negative results. The league-average PER is 15, with a great player achieving a score in the mid to high 20s. However, some argue that the PER gives undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes and undervalues players with a diverse playing style. The topic of whether a higher or lower PER is better in basketball is complex and depends on various factors, including playing style, position, and team strategy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is PER? | Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is John Hollinger's all-in-one basketball rating that attempts to collect all of a player's contributions into one number. |
| How is it calculated? | PER uses a detailed formula to rate a player's statistical performance, taking into account positive and negative results. The positive stats are added and the negative ones are subtracted through a statistical point value system. |
| What does it measure? | PER measures a player's per-minute performance, while adjusting for pace and playing time. It largely measures offensive performance, including field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. |
| What is a good PER? | The average NBA player has a PER of '15' in Hollinger's system. A "great" player is in the mid to high 20s, while a poor player is below 10. |
| Limitations | PER may give undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes and undervalue players who play starter's minutes. It also rewards inefficient shooting and may not accurately measure defensive performance. |
| Higher or Lower Game | There are higher or lower games available for NBA stats enthusiasts, where they can guess which player has a higher PPG (points per game) or compare other stats like salaries and 3-pointers. |
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What You'll Learn
Calculating Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a per-minute metric that evaluates a basketball player's performance. It was developed by ESPN basketball columnist John Hollinger to provide a holistic view of a player's overall impact on the game. The PER formula considers various aspects of a player's performance, including both offensive and defensive contributions such as scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and personal fouls.
To calculate PER, Hollinger's method starts with finding the unadjusted PER using a formula that evaluates 12 different stats available for any specific player. These stats are weighted differently, with field goals made being worth more than a defensive rebound, for example. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system. The positive stats include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. The negative stats include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls.
After calculating the unadjusted PER, adjustments are made to each player's score to account for their team's pace. This ensures that players on teams with a fast-break style, who have more possessions and offensive opportunities, are not advantaged. The final step is to standardise the PER by setting the league average to 15.00 every season. This standardisation allows for easy comparisons of player performance across seasons.
It is important to note that while PER is a valuable tool, it should be used alongside other metrics and qualitative assessments to fully understand a player's abilities and impact. Additionally, PER has been criticised for giving undue weight to players' contributions in limited minutes and undervaluing players who play starter's minutes. It has also been said to reward inefficient shooting.
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PER's limitations
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) system, created by John Hollinger, is a widely accepted and used method for rating basketball players. The system calculates a player's per-minute performance, taking into account positive and negative results, and adjusting for pace and playing time. However, despite its popularity, PER has several limitations:
Overemphasis on Limited Minutes
PER has been criticised for placing too much weight on a player's contribution during limited minutes or against a team's second unit. This means that players who perform well in short bursts may be rated higher than those who consistently perform at a high level throughout an entire game.
Undervaluing Versatile Players
Related to the first point, PER is said to undervalue players who have the versatility to play starter's minutes. These players, who can contribute across different areas of the game, may be rated lower than specialists who excel in specific areas.
Rewarding Inefficient Shooting
PER has also been criticised for rewarding inefficient shooting. The system values made shots higher than missed shots, which can encourage players to take more shots, even if they are low-percentage attempts. This can lead to inefficient gameplay and favour players who take more shots, regardless of their accuracy.
Distorted View of Defensive Performance
Hollinger acknowledges that the defensive statistics incorporated into PER, such as blocks and steals, can produce a distorted picture of a player's defensive ability. These statistics may not fully capture the nuances of defensive play and can be influenced by factors beyond an individual's control, such as team strategy or opponent quality.
Incomparable Across Seasons
The calculation of PER requires certain statistics that were not tracked before 1978, making it impossible to calculate in the conventional manner for earlier seasons. This limits the ability to compare players across different eras of basketball and understand their performance relative to their contemporaries.
Inconsistent Strength of Schedule
In college basketball, the strength of schedules can vary significantly between teams, which can impact the PER ratings. Some mid and low-level Division I players may have higher PERs than players from power conferences due to weaker competition, which can skew the ratings and make it challenging to compare players accurately.
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Interpreting PER
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a basketball rating system developed by John Hollinger to assess a player's performance. It is calculated using a detailed formula that considers various statistical measures, including field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The league-average PER is set at 15.00, which serves as a reference point for comparing players across different seasons.
When interpreting PER, it is important to understand that a higher PER indicates better performance. A player with a PER above 15 is considered above average, while a player with a PER below 15 is considered below average. Additionally, Hollinger suggests that a score in the mid to high 20s indicates a "great" player. For example, only 33 players have posted a season efficiency rating over 30.0, with the highest score being 32.85 (Nikola Jokić).
It is worth noting that PER primarily measures offensive performance, and Hollinger acknowledges that the defensive statistics it incorporates (blocks and steals) may not fully capture a player's defensive capabilities. As a result, PER may not be a reliable indicator of a player's defensive prowess. However, it still provides valuable insights into a player's overall contribution to the team.
Another factor to consider when interpreting PER is the playing time and pace of the game. PER strives to measure a player's per-minute performance and adjust for the pace of the game. This allows for a more accurate comparison between players with different playing times, such as substitutes and starters. However, some critics argue that PER may give undue weight to players' contributions in limited minutes or against weaker opposition.
Despite these limitations, PER has been widely accepted and utilized in the basketball community. Coaches can use PER as a complementary tool to their visual impressions and tactical understanding of the game. Additionally, NBA personnel use college players' PER as support data when evaluating draft prospects. By analysing PER, coaches and analysts can gain valuable insights into players' strengths, weaknesses, and overall contributions to their teams.
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PER and pace of play
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating system developed by John Hollinger that aims to consolidate a basketball player's performance into a single number. The PER rates a player's statistical performance, taking into account positive results such as field goals, free throws, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, as well as negative results like missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system.
The PER is designed to measure a player's per-minute performance while adjusting for pace. It takes into account the number of minutes played and the pace of the game, ensuring that players are not advantaged or disadvantaged by the style of play or the number of possessions their team has. The pace adjustment is calculated using the formula [240/(Team Minutes)]*(Possession_team+Possession_opponent)/2, where Team Minutes is 240 for a regulation game, 265 for a 1 OT game, 290 for a 2 OT game, 315 for a 3 OT game, and 340 for a 4 OT game.
The PER has been criticised for giving undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes or against a team's second unit. It has also been said to undervalue players who have the versatility to play starter's minutes and to reward inefficient shooting. Despite these criticisms, the PER provides a standardised way to compare players' performances across seasons, with a league-average PER of 15.00 serving as a reference point.
While pace can provide insights into a team's style of play and identity, it does not determine their success. Teams with a faster pace will have more possessions and, therefore, more opportunities to score, but this does not guarantee victory. Additionally, a team's pace can vary depending on the opponent and game flow, making it challenging to accurately predict outcomes based solely on pace.
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PER and player salaries
The player efficiency rating (PER) is a basketball rating system developed by John Hollinger that consolidates all of a player's contributions into a single value. It measures a player's per-minute performance, taking into account various positive and negative outcomes, such as field goals, free throws, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The league-average PER is always set to 15.00, allowing for comparisons across seasons.
While PER has its benefits, it has also faced criticism. Some argue that it gives too much weight to players' contributions in limited minutes or against weaker opposition, undervaluing those who consistently play starter's minutes. Additionally, PER has been criticised for rewarding inefficient shooting and overvaluing players who take many shots, even if their shooting percentage is low.
Despite these limitations, PER can still provide valuable insights into player performance and is often used as a reference for player salaries. NBA teams and analysts use various metrics, including PER, to evaluate players' on-court contributions when determining their salaries. A player with a high PER, indicating exceptional performance, may negotiate a higher salary, whereas a lower PER may result in a lower salary offer.
However, it is essential to recognise that player salaries are influenced by multiple factors beyond just their PER. Other considerations include a player's overall impact on the team, their defensive capabilities, leadership qualities, marketability, and the salary cap constraints of the team. Teams also consider a player's potential for improvement or decline when negotiating contracts, which may not be fully captured by their current PER.
In conclusion, while PER is a valuable tool for assessing player efficiency and can influence salary negotiations, it is just one factor among many in determining player salaries in the NBA. Teams and analysts must consider a holistic view of a player's contributions, both on and off the court, when determining their compensation.
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Frequently asked questions
John Hollinger's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a basketball rating system that collects all of a player's contributions into one number. It measures a player's per-minute performance, taking into account positive and negative results, and adjusting for the pace of play and an individual's playing time.
In Hollinger's system, the average NBA player has a rating of 15. A "great" player will have a rating in the mid to high 20s, while a poor player will be rated below 10.
PER has been criticised for giving undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes, undervaluing players who play starter's minutes, and rewarding inefficient shooting. It also focuses on offensive performance and may not accurately capture a player's defensive acumen.
As of March 13, 2025, Nikola Jokić had the highest single-season PER at 32.85. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokić have each achieved four seasons with a PER above 30.
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