Field-goal percentage is a poor efficiency measure because it ignores free throws entirely and treats a three-pointer the same as a layup — two shots worth very different amounts of expected value. True Shooting percentage fixes both flaws in a single formula, making it the most comprehensive single-number gauge of a scorer’s efficiency. This calculator applies the exact NBA formula with the standard 0.44 free-throw coefficient.
The formula and why it works
True Shooting compares points scored to the possessions used to score them:
TS% = PTS / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA))Multiplying the denominator by 2 scales the result so that 50% corresponds to scoring exactly one point per possession attempt — a break-even threshold in a league where an average possession produces roughly one point. Most efficient scorers land between 55% and 65%.
The 0.44 × FTA term is what separates TS% from effective field-goal percentage (eFG%). eFG% accounts for the extra point from threes but still ignores free throws. The 0.44 coefficient converts free-throw attempts into estimated possession fractions:
- 2-shot fouls (the most common) use half a possession each shot, so two FTAs ≈ one possession → coefficient 0.50
- And-1 free throws (one shot on a made basket) use almost no possession because the field-goal attempt was already counted → pulls coefficient down
- Technical free throws and flagrant fouls behave differently
The league-wide average across all these scenarios lands at roughly 0.44, which is why 0.44 is the standard. Some analysts use 0.475 for college basketball where foul-shot patterns differ slightly.
Worked examples
Example 1 — elite scorer: A player scores 30 points on 20 FGA and 8 FTA.
denominator = 2 × (20 + 0.44 × 8) = 2 × 23.52 = 47.04
TS% = 30 / 47.04 ≈ 63.8%63.8% is solidly elite by modern NBA standards.
Example 2 — volume scorer who looks good on paper: A player scores 28 points on 24 FGA and 4 FTA.
denominator = 2 × (24 + 0.44 × 4) = 2 × 25.76 = 51.52
TS% = 28 / 51.52 ≈ 54.3%54.3% is below league average, meaning this player’s high point total is being achieved inefficiently — taking many shots to get there.
Benchmarks to read your results
| TS% | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Below 50% | Well below average; hurting the team’s efficiency |
| 50–55% | Below average |
| 55–58% | Near league average |
| 58–62% | Above average to good |
| 62%+ | Elite; among the best scorers in the league |
Practical notes
- Use season totals for a stable, meaningful TS% figure. Single-game TS% swings sharply based on whether a player happened to get to the line that night.
- TS% says nothing about volume — a player who scores 5 points at 70% TS% contributes less than one who scores 25 points at 60%. Use TS% alongside points per game or per possession.
- TS% is most useful for comparing two players who score similar volumes, or for tracking a single player across a season or career to see whether their efficiency is improving.