Measure shooting efficiency across all scoring methods
2026-06-01
Total points scored in season
All FG attempts (2P + 3P)
All free throw attempts
Efficiency Tier
True Shooting %
38.6%
Classification
Poor
Points per FGA
0.84
Poor Shooter
Very inefficient. Hurting the team.
| Efficiency Tier | TS% | Example Players |
|---|---|---|
| Elite (65%+) | 65% | Kevin Durant, LeBron James peak |
| Excellent (60%) | 60% | Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry |
| Very Good (56%) | 56% | NBA Average, solid starter |
| Good (52%) | 52% | Above-average bench player |
| Average (48%) | 48% | League bottom-tier starter |
| TS% | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|
| .650+ | Elite | All-time great (rare) |
| .600+ | Excellent | MVP-level |
| .550+ | Very Good | All-star |
| Below .550 | Below Avg | Below league avg |
💡 Pro Tip: TS% accounts for free throws (undervalued in raw FG%). League avg ~.570. Better free throw shooters have higher TS% than raw FG% suggests.
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is an advanced basketball metric that measures overall shooting efficiency. Unlike basic field goal percentage, TS% accounts for all scoring methods: 2-pointers, 3-pointers, and free throws. It answers the question: "How efficiently does a player convert scoring opportunities?"
Why TS% Matters:
TS% is preferred by analytics experts over traditional FG% because it better reflects a player's offensive value to the team.
The formula for True Shooting % is simple but powerful: divide total points by a weighted sum of all shooting attempts.
The Formula
TS% = Points / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)) × 100
What Each Part Means
Points: Total points scored
FGA: Field goal attempts (2P + 3P)
FTA: Free throw attempts
0.44: Weighting factor (accounts for technical fouls, league free throw rate)
Example Calculation
Player: 1,850 points in season
FGA: 2,200 | FTA: 450
TS% = 1,850 / (2 × (2,200 + 0.44 × 450)) × 100
TS% = 1,850 / 4,796 × 100 = 38.6%
(Interpretation: Below average shooter)
0.44 note: The 0.44 factor is a long-used estimate for how often free throw attempts translate into real scoring opportunities.
Scenario: Two NBA players each scored 2,000 points in a season. Player A shot 2,500 times with 400 FTA. Player B shot 2,200 times with 800 FTA. Who was more efficient?
Calculating Both Players:
Player A
2,000 points | 2,500 FGA | 400 FTA
TS% = 2,000 / (2 × 2,500 + 0.44 × 400) × 100
TS% = 2,000 / 5,176 × 100 = 38.7%
Player B
2,000 points | 2,200 FGA | 800 FTA
TS% = 2,000 / (2 × 2,200 + 0.44 × 800) × 100
TS% = 2,000 / 4,832 × 100 = 41.4%
Interpretation:
Both scored 2,000 points, but Player B was more efficient (41.4% vs 38.7%). Why? Player B took fewer FGA and more FTA, meaning he drew fouls and got to the line frequently—a sign of better shot selection and drawing defense pressure. Player A jacked up more attempts to reach the same point total, indicating inefficiency.
What is a good TS%?
56%+ is NBA average. 60%+ is elite. Below 48% is poor. The best scorers (MVP candidates) shoot 62%+.
Why is TS% better than FG%?
FG% ignores 3-pointers vs. 2-pointers and all free throws. TS% accounts for all scoring methods, giving truer efficiency.
Can TS% exceed 100%?
Yes, in rare cases with many free throws relative to FGA. But 100%+ TS% usually means few attempts (small sample size).
How does drawing fouls improve TS%?
Free throws count toward TS%. More FTA (from fouls) increases the denominator less than 2× FGA, rewarding aggressive scorers.
What about 3-point shooters?
TS% treats 3-pointers the same as 2-pointers in the denominator (both count as FGA). Efficient 3-point shooting boosts TS%.
Is high volume bad for TS%?
Not necessarily. High-volume scorers who are efficient (60%+) are elite. Low efficiency on high volume hurts the team.
How do role players compare?
Bench players often have better TS% (open shots, fewer defenders) than stars. TS% alone doesn't tell the whole story.
What's the TS% of a perfect shooter?
If a player only took free throws, TS% ≈ 217% (points / 0.44×FTA). This shows TS% has limits with unusual shot distributions.
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