Basketball stats explained: PER, TS%, eFG% and more

Box score stats only tell part of the story. Modern basketball uses advanced metrics that capture efficiency, impact, and role. Here's a plain-English guide to the ones worth knowing.

True Shooting % (TS%)

The best single shooting efficiency stat. It accounts for 2-pointers, 3-pointers, and free throws — unlike FG% which ignores them. Formula: PTS / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)). Elite is 60%+.

Effective FG% (eFG%)

FG% adjusted for the fact that 3-pointers are worth more than 2s. Formula: (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) / FGA. Better than raw FG% for comparing shooters with different shot diets.

PER (Player Efficiency Rating)

John Hollinger's all-in-one box-score stat, normalized so league average is 15. Star level is 22+, MVP territory is 27+. Limitations: it under-values defense and over-rewards volume.

Usage rate

The % of team possessions a player "uses" while on the floor (shot, FT trip, or turnover). 30%+ is alpha-scorer territory. Pair it with TS% — high usage + high efficiency = star.

Assist %, Rebound %, Steal %, Block %

"Per opportunity" versions of counting stats. They normalize for minutes and team pace, making cross-team comparisons fair.

How to use them

• Comparing scorers? TS% and usage together.
• Comparing playmakers? Assist % and turnover %.
• Comparing role players? eFG% and rebound % per minute.

Don't pick a side between "old school" and "advanced" — use both. The eye test catches what stats miss; stats catch what the eye misses.

Common mistakes with advanced stats

Small samples fool everyone. A player who shoots 70% TS over five games has not become an elite shooter; wait for at least 20–25 games before trusting efficiency numbers. Context matters too: a bench scorer facing second units will often post better rates than a starter who draws the other team's best defender. And remember that most of these numbers are built from the box score, so they say little about screens, help defense or spacing.