Basketball Stats Calculator

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Boiling a Box Score Down to One Number

A box score full of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and shooting attempts tells you a lot, but not at a glance which of two very different stat lines was actually more valuable. The Efficiency (EFF) formula, the simplified version popularized by NBA.com, exists to compress a full box score into a single comparable figure by rewarding production and penalizing missed shots and turnovers.

The Formula

This calculator uses the standard simplified Efficiency formula:

EFF = (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) − (FGA − FGM) − (FTA − FTM) − TO

Every made shot and defensive/playmaking stat adds to the total, while missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers subtract from it. Because it treats every counting stat as worth exactly one point, EFF is a simplified measure — it doesn't weight three-pointers, assists, or blocks differently — but it remains a widely used quick-reference stat precisely because of that simplicity.

Where This Calculation Matters

  • Post-game player comparison — ranking every player in a box score by a single EFF number gives an immediate, if rough, read on who produced the most.
  • Season tracking — averaging EFF per game across a season shows overall production trends more cleanly than any single counting stat.
  • Recreational and fantasy leagues — leagues that don't track advanced metrics like PER often use EFF as an accessible stand-in.
  • Shot-selection awareness — because missed shots subtract directly from EFF, the formula rewards efficient shooting, not just high volume.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, and Blocks.
  2. Enter Field Goals Attempted and Field Goals Made.
  3. Enter Free Throws Attempted and Free Throws Made.
  4. Enter Turnovers.
  5. Select Calculate to see the EFF score and the full arithmetic breakdown.

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For a shooting-specific efficiency figure that accounts for three-pointers and free throws together, see the Basketball True Shooting Percentage Calculator. For a comparable single-number rating in another sport, check the Football Passer Rating Calculator.