
In basketball, EFF stands for Efficiency, a composite statistic that attempts to measure a player's overall performance beyond just points scored. It is calculated by adding positive actions (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracting negative actions (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers). While EFF is a quick way to gauge a player's efficiency, it is considered to favour offensive players due to the challenge of quantifying defensive contributions. As such, alternative metrics like the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN's John Hollinger, aim to provide a more comprehensive evaluation by accounting for different team styles and other factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Efficiency |
| What it stands for | Player efficiency |
| What it measures | Total value of a player to a basketball team |
| Positives | Points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks |
| Negatives | Missed field goals, missed free throws, turnovers |
| Variations | EFF per game played (EFF/GP), EFF per game time (EFF/48 for NBA and EFF/40 for WNBA and NCAA) |
| Alternatives | Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Offensive Efficiency Rating (OER), Defensive Efficiency Rating (DER), Performance Index Rating (PIR) |
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What You'll Learn

EFF is a total performance statistic
In basketball, "EFF" stands for Efficiency, which is a total performance statistic. Efficiency is a commonly used statistical benchmark that compares the overall value of players in professional basketball. It is a composite basketball statistic derived from basic individual statistics. These include points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and shot attempts.
The formula for calculating EFF is: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP. This formula takes into account both offensive contributions (points and assists) and defensive contributions (steals and blocks). However, it is generally believed that efficiency ratings favour offence-oriented players as defence is more challenging to quantify with currently tabulated statistics.
The EFF is a quick way to gauge a player's efficiency compared to other metrics like PER (Player Efficiency Rating). EFF is calculated by adding up the positives (offensive contributions) and subtracting the negatives (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers).
While EFF is a useful metric, it has limitations, particularly regarding defence. For a more comprehensive evaluation of a player's performance, other metrics like PER, developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger, can be used. PER considers various factors, including the team's style of play, to provide a more thorough performance indicator.
In addition to EFF and PER, other efficiency metrics in basketball include OER (Offensive Efficiency Rating), DER (Defensive Efficiency Rating), PIR (Player Index Rating), and TSP (True Shooting Percentage). These metrics provide different perspectives on a player's performance and contribution to the team.
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EFF stands for player efficiency
In basketball, "EFF" stands for player efficiency, a composite statistic that measures a player's overall performance. It is derived from basic individual statistics, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, shot attempts, and missed field and free-throw goals.
The formula for calculating EFF is:
PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO)
This formula quantifies a player's efficiency by adding up their positive contributions (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracting their negative actions (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers). The resulting value provides a quantitative measure of a player's performance beyond just points scored.
EFF is a widely used metric in the NBA, where it is listed as a simple addition and subtraction of the factors mentioned above. It offers a quick way to compare players' overall values and contributions to their teams. However, one drawback of EFF is its focus on offensive play, with defence being more challenging to quantify with currently tabulated statistics.
Other variations of EFF include calculations per game played (EFF/GP) or normalised to one unit of regulation game time (EFF/48 for the NBA, and EFF/40 for NCAA and WNBA). These adjustments allow for a more nuanced understanding of a player's efficiency, accounting for the number of games played or the duration of their playing time.
While EFF is a commonly used metric, alternative player efficiency ratings have been developed, such as the Player Efficiency Rating (PER) by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. PER employs a more complex calculation that considers factors such as the varying styles of play between teams. Despite their differences, EFF and PER scores often yield similar results, though player rankings may differ between the two systems.
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The formula for EFF
In basketball, "EFF" stands for player efficiency. It is a total performance statistic that attempts to measure a player's performance beyond the number of points produced. The formula for EFF is a simple addition and subtraction of positive and negative actions:
> Efficiency (EFF) = (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP
Here, PTS refers to points, REB to rebounds, AST to assists, STL to steals, BLK to blocks, Missed FG to missed field goals, Missed FT to missed free throws, TO to turnovers, and GP to games played. This formula is used by the NBA to assess individual player efficiency.
The EFF formula can be adjusted to show efficiency per game played (EFF/GP) or normalized to 1 unit of regulation game time (EFF/48 for the NBA, and EFF/40 for NCAA and WNBA).
While EFF is a widely used metric, it is believed to favour offensive players as defence is difficult to quantify with currently tabulated statistics. The most common alternative to EFF is the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. PER is calculated using a more complex formula that factors in the varying styles of play between teams.
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EFF vs PER
In basketball, "EFF" stands for player efficiency. It is a total performance statistic that attempts to measure a player's performance beyond the number of points produced. The formula for calculating EFF is:
PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed FG – Missed FT – TO) / GP
Here, PTS refers to points, REB to rebounds, AST to assists, STL to steals, BLK to blocks, FG to field goals, FT to free throws, TO to turnovers, and GP to games played.
The Player Efficiency Rating, or PER, on the other hand, is a more complex calculation developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. It aims to compensate for different teams' varying styles of play and other factors. PER is calculated using the following formula:
The PER sums up all a player’s positive accomplishments, subtracts the negative accomplishments, and returns a per-minute rating of a player’s performance.
While PER and EFF scores may not differ significantly, player rankings will not be the same in both systems. A PER of 15 is considered average across the entire league, while there is no such benchmark for EFF. Teams vying for the championship typically aim for at least two star players with efficiency ratings in the low twenties. A PER of 30 over several games is considered exceptionally high.
In summary, both EFF and PER are used to evaluate player performance in basketball, but they use different calculations and have distinct benchmarks for assessing player value. EFF is a simpler calculation that may favour offensive players, while PER is more complex and considers factors such as team style of play.
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Other efficiency metrics in basketball
In basketball, EFF stands for player efficiency. It is a total performance statistic that attempts to measure a player's performance beyond the number of points produced. It is derived from a simple formula that adds up the positive actions (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracts the negative actions (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers).
Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
The most commonly used alternative to EFF is the player efficiency rating or PER, developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. It is derived from a complex calculation that takes into account various factors, including the team's varying style of play. PER provides a more thorough performance indicator, measuring a player's per-minute impact on the game rather than solely relying on stats. A PER of 15 is considered average across the league, while a PER of 30 over several games is deemed exceptionally high.
Offensive Efficiency Rating (OER) and Defensive Efficiency Rating (DER)
These metrics specifically focus on a player's offensive and defensive contributions, respectively. OER assesses a player's efficiency in scoring and creating scoring opportunities, while DER evaluates their defensive prowess, such as their ability to force turnovers or limit the opponent's scoring.
Performance Index Rating (PIR)
Used in the EuroLeague, EuroCup, and several European national domestic leagues, PIR is calculated as (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks + Fouls Drawn) - (Missed Field Goals + Missed Free Throws + Turnovers + Shots Rejected + Fouls Committed). This formula considers a broader range of factors, including fouls, to determine a player's overall performance and efficiency.
Points Per Possession (PPP)
PPP is a metric that assesses efficiency in terms of the number of points scored relative to the number of possessions. It evaluates how effectively a team or player utilizes their possessions to generate scoring opportunities.
True Shooting Percentage (TS%)
TS% takes into account not just field goals but also free throws and three-pointers to provide a more comprehensive view of a player's shooting efficiency. It considers the value of each type of shot and the likelihood of making those shots, offering a more accurate assessment of a player's scoring ability.
These metrics, along with EFF, provide valuable insights into different aspects of a player's performance, helping coaches, analysts, and fans understand and compare players' contributions to their teams.
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Frequently asked questions
EFF stands for Efficiency or Player Efficiency.
Player efficiency is calculated using the formula: (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks – Missed Field Goals – Missed Free Throws – Turnovers).
EFF is highly concentrated on offensive rather than defensive actions, so it doesn't provide the best evaluation of a player's defensive capabilities.
Alternatives to EFF include Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Offensive Efficiency Rating (OER), and Defensive Efficiency Rating (DER).



























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