
Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a basketball player's per-minute productivity. It was devised by John Hollinger to collect or boil down all of a player's contributions into one number. The system uses a detailed formula that rates a player's statistical performance, taking into account both positive and negative results. This includes field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The league average PER is set to 15.00 every season. While PER is a widely used metric, it is not a perfect evaluation of a player's accomplishments, especially for defensive specialists. It is, however, useful for summarising a player's statistical accomplishments and can be valuable for basketball betting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Player Efficiency Rating |
| Creator | John Hollinger |
| Purpose | Collect or boil down all of a player's contributions into one number |
| Basis | Per-minute performance, adjusted for pace |
| League Average | 15.00 |
| Components | Field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, personal fouls |
| Use | Summarise a player's statistical accomplishments, compare players across seasons and playing time |
| Limitations | Not a final evaluation, especially for defensive specialists, may undervalue diverse players, not a reliable measure of defensive abilities |
| Application | Betting, evaluating draft prospects |
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What You'll Learn

PER is an acronym for Player Efficiency Rating
The player efficiency rating is calculated using a detailed formula that takes into account various positive and negative aspects of a player's performance. Positive accomplishments include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Negative accomplishments refer to missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system.
One of the key features of PER is that it is a per-minute rating, allowing for comparisons between players with different amounts of playing time. It is also pace-adjusted, accounting for the varying paces of different teams. This adjustment ensures that players on slower-paced teams are not penalised for having fewer possessions than faster-paced teams. The league-average PER is set to 15.00, providing a benchmark for evaluating players across seasons.
While PER is a widely accepted and popular metric, it is not without its limitations. It primarily focuses on offensive performance, and the defensive statistics it incorporates (blocks and steals) may not accurately reflect a player's defensive prowess. Additionally, PER may favour volume over efficiency and may not capture all non-box score stats that impact the game. It is important to recognise that PER is not the sole evaluation of a player's accomplishments during a season, especially for defensive specialists who may excel in areas beyond blocks and steals.
Despite these considerations, PER remains a valuable tool for evaluating players, particularly in fantasy basketball, where individual stats are of utmost importance. It provides a quantitative method for assessing a player's overall impact and can be used alongside other metrics and evaluations to gain a comprehensive understanding of a player's performance.
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PER is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity. It was created by ESPN.com columnist and sportswriter John Hollinger in the late '90s to measure each NBA player's overall impact on the game.
PER is a statistical metric that rates a basketball player's per-minute performance while adjusting for pace. It aims to collect all of a player's contributions into a single number. The formula for PER takes into account various positive and negative results, including field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The positive stats are added together, while the negative stats are subtracted, resulting in a statistical point value system. This value is then adjusted to a per-minute basis, allowing for comparisons between players with different playing times. For example, it enables comparisons between substitutes and starters, helping to inform playing time debates.
The league-average PER is always set to 15.00, which serves as a benchmark for comparing player performance across different seasons. A rating above 15 is considered good, while anything below is seen as below average. A player with a PER in the mid to high 20s is considered "great," while a rating below 10 indicates a poor performance. As of 2024, Nikola Jokic holds the highest career PER in NBA history at 28.08, followed by Michael Jordan (27.91) and LeBron James (27.06).
While PER is a widely accepted and useful tool for evaluating players, it is important to note that it is not a perfect or definitive evaluation of a player's accomplishments. One limitation is that it primarily measures offensive performance, and the defensive statistics it incorporates (blocks and steals) may not accurately reflect a player's defensive acumen. Additionally, PER may favour players who accumulate statistics due to their playing time and the pace of the game. It is also argued that PER gives undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes and undervalues players with a diverse skill set who play starter's minutes.
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PER is not a definitive evaluation of a player's accomplishments
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity. It was created by John Hollinger and uses a formula that returns a value for each of a player's accomplishments. These include positive accomplishments such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals, and negative ones such as missed shots, turnovers and personal fouls.
However, PER is not a definitive evaluation of a player's accomplishments. Firstly, it largely measures offensive performance and does not adequately capture defensive acumen. For example, defensive specialists like Bruce Bowen and Trenton Hassell, who don't accumulate many blocks or steals, tend to have lower PERs. PER also does not account for the quality of a player's teammates or opponents, the pace of the game, or any non-box score stats that impact the game.
Additionally, PER can give undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes or against a weaker team, undervaluing players who play more minutes or against stronger opponents. It has also been criticised for rewarding inefficient shooting. For instance, a player can inflate their PER by taking a large number of shots, even if their shooting percentage is low.
Furthermore, PER is calibrated to a league average of 15.00, which allows for comparisons across seasons. However, this standardisation may not accurately reflect the unique contributions of individual players or the specific contexts of their performances.
While PER provides a quantitative summary of a player's statistical accomplishments, it should be considered alongside other metrics and qualitative evaluations to fully assess a player's performance and value to their team.
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PER is calculated using a detailed formula
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a statistical metric in basketball that evaluates a player's per-minute productivity. It was devised by John Hollinger and is considered one of the first common NBA stats. The formula behind PER is detailed and takes into account a range of factors to produce a single number that summarises a player's performance.
The PER formula considers both positive and negative aspects of a player's game. Positive accomplishments such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals are included in the calculation. On the other hand, negative aspects like missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls are also factored in. Each of these statistical measures is assigned a specific point value.
The calculation of PER is per-minute, allowing for comparisons between players with varying amounts of playing time. This adjustment ensures that players are evaluated based on their productivity during their time on the court, rather than simply accumulating statistics due to more playing time. Additionally, the formula is pace-adjusted, accounting for the different styles and paces of play across teams. This adjustment ensures that players on slower-paced teams are not penalised for having fewer possessions and opportunities.
While PER provides a convenient summary of a player's performance, it is important to recognise its limitations. PER primarily measures offensive performance and may not fully capture defensive abilities. Defensive specialists, for example, may not accumulate many blocks or steals, which could distort their overall PER rating. Additionally, PER does not account for the quality of a player's teammates or opponents, which can significantly impact their performance.
Despite these considerations, PER remains a valuable tool in basketball analytics. It offers a standardised metric for evaluating and comparing players across seasons and teams. Coaches and analysts can utilise PER alongside other advanced metrics to gain a more comprehensive understanding of player performance and make informed decisions.
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PER is used in basketball betting
Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a metric used in basketball to evaluate a player's performance. It was developed by ESPN.com columnist John Hollinger in the early 2000s. The formula for PER takes into account various positive and negative statistical measures of a player's performance, such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The player's rating is then adjusted to a per-minute basis, allowing for comparisons between players with different amounts of playing time.
PER is a useful tool for basketball betting, as it provides a snapshot of a player's efficiency and productivity on the court. While it should not be the sole factor considered when placing a bet, it can be used in conjunction with other data to make more informed decisions. For example, PER can be used to determine the value of injuries, as it can provide insight into how much a particular player contributes to their team's success.
Additionally, PER can be used to identify players who may be undervalued or overvalued by traditional statistics. For instance, a player with a high number of points per game may be considered a strong contributor, but PER takes into account other factors such as rebounds, assists, and blocks, which can provide a more comprehensive understanding of their impact on the game.
It's important to note that PER has its limitations and should not be the sole factor in evaluating a player's performance. It primarily measures offensive performance and may not fully capture the value of defensive specialists. Additionally, it does not account for the quality of a player's teammates or opponents, which can significantly impact their performance.
Despite these limitations, PER remains a widely used metric in basketball betting due to its ability to provide a single, comprehensive rating of a player's performance. By utilizing PER in conjunction with other advanced metrics and contextual information, bettors can make more informed decisions and improve their chances of success.
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Frequently asked questions
PER is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity. It collects all of a player's contributions and boils them down to a single number.
John Hollinger created a 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 league-average PER is always set to 15.00. A "great" player typically falls in the mid to high 20s, while a poor player is usually below 10.
PER is not a perfect evaluation of a player's accomplishments, especially for defensive specialists. It largely measures offensive performance, and the defensive statistics it includes (blocks and steals) can produce a distorted view of a player's defensive abilities.
PER can be valuable in assessing the impact of player injuries or absences on game outcomes. It helps bettors understand the value of individual players and make more informed decisions when placing bets.











































