Basketball True Shooting Percentage Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: August 19, 2026The Shooting Stat That Doesn't Ignore the Free-Throw Line
Field goal percentage alone misses two things that matter: it treats a made three-pointer the same as a made mid-range jumper, and it ignores free throws entirely. A player who draws contact and shoots 90% from the line is scoring efficiently even if their field-goal percentage looks modest. True Shooting Percentage (TS%) fixes both gaps by folding free throws and the extra value of three-pointers into a single, points-per-shot-attempt-equivalent number.
The Formula
TS% converts total points into a shooting percentage against an attempt count that accounts for free-throw efficiency:
The 0.44 multiplier on free throw attempts is a standard approximation of how many "possessions" a free throw attempt represents, accounting for and-one situations and technical fouls where not every FTA maps to a discrete possession the way a field goal attempt does. Multiplying the denominator by 2 converts the possession-equivalent count into a scale comparable to a straightforward shooting percentage.
Where This Calculation Matters
- Comparing scorers fairly — a player who scores efficiently from the line and beyond the arc can look mediocre on raw field-goal percentage; TS% corrects for that.
- Evaluating three-point shooters — because TS% implicitly credits the extra value of made threes, high-volume three-point shooters are judged more accurately than by FG% alone.
- Foul-drawing offensive players — players who draw fouls and convert free throws efficiently show a real efficiency edge in TS% that other shooting stats undercount.
- Season and career benchmarking — TS% is one of the standard advanced stats used to compare shooting efficiency across eras and playing styles.
Sample TS% Calculations
Computed directly from the formula, these examples show two different ways to reach a similar efficiency level:
| Points | FGA | FTA | TS% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 20 | 6 | 66.25% |
| 20 | 15 | 2 | 62.97% |
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Points Scored.
- Enter Field Goals Attempted.
- Enter Free Throws Attempted.
- Select Calculate to see the true shooting percentage and the underlying calculation.
Related Calculations
For an overall single-number production stat rather than a shooting-specific one, see the Basketball Stats Calculator. For an equivalent efficiency rating in football, check the Football Passer Rating Calculator.
Principles of Modern Basketball Analytics and True Shooting Percentage
A True Shooting percentage calculator computes advanced basketball scoring efficiency metrics — True Shooting Percentage (TS%), Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%), and Points Per Shot (PPS). In modern NBA analytics, traditional Field Goal Percentage (FG%) is inherently flawed because it treats 3-pointers identically to 2-pointers and completely ignores free throw scoring. True Shooting captures all three scoring avenues.
The Fundamental True Shooting (TS%) Formula
- Points (PTS): Total points scored.
- FGA: Field Goal Attempts (2-point and 3-point shots).
- FTA: Free Throw Attempts.
- 0.44 Coefficient: The empirical free throw possession factor accounting for "And-One" 3-point plays, technical fouls, and 3-shot fouls.
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) Formula
NBA Scoring Efficiency Benchmarks
| Efficiency Tier | True Shooting % (TS%) | Effective FG % (eFG%) | Player Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite / All-NBA Superstar | > 62.0% to 68.0%+ | > 58.0% | High-volume elite 3-point snipers and dunkers |
| Above Average Starter | 58.0% to 61.9% | 54.0% to 57.9% | Efficient modern perimeter scorers |
| League Average (NBA Baseline) | 57.0% to 57.5% | 53.5% | Standard modern NBA league average |
| Below Average / Inefficient | < 53.0% | < 50.0% | Heavy mid-range contested pull-up shooters |
Step-by-Step Worked Calculation Example
Example: Comparing Two 28-Point NBA Scoring Performances
Problem:
Player A: Scores 28 Points on 10/16 FG (6/10 from 3PT, 4/6 from 2PT) and 2/2 FT.
Player B: Scores 28 Points on 10/24 FG (0/2 from 3PT, 10/22 from 2PT) and 8/10 FT.
Calculate TS% for both players.
Step 1: Calculate Player A TS% (FGA = 16, FTA = 2, PTS = 28):
True Shooting Possessions = 2 × [ 16 + ( 0.44 × 2 ) ] = 2 × [ 16 + 0.88 ] = 33.76
Player A TS% = ( 28 / 33.76 ) × 100% = 82.94% (Ultra-efficient elite performance)
Step 2: Calculate Player B TS% (FGA = 24, FTA = 10, PTS = 28):
True Shooting Possessions = 2 × [ 24 + ( 0.44 × 10 ) ] = 2 × [ 24 + 4.40 ] = 56.80
Player B TS% = ( 28 / 56.80 ) × 100% = 49.30% (Inefficient scoring night)
Conclusion: While both scored 28 points, Player A consumed only 16.9 shot possessions (82.9% TS%) vs. Player B's 28.4 possessions (49.3% TS%).
The "Moreyball" Revolution and Modern Shot Selection
True Shooting analytics revolutionized NBA roster construction and tactical shot distribution (pioneered by the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors):
- Corner 3-Pointers: Measuring 22.0 feet from the basket (compared to 23.75 feet at the top of the arc), a 38% corner 3-point shooter generates 1.14 Points Per Possession (PPP) — equivalent to a 57% 2-point field goal shooter!
- Restricted Area Rim Finishes: High-percentage layups, floaters, and dunks generate over 1.25 to 1.35 PPP and draw high-frequency shooting fouls.
- The Elimination of the Contested Long 2-Pointer: Shooting 40% on contested 18-foot mid-range jumpers yields only 0.80 PPP, which represents catastrophic offensive inefficiency in the modern NBA.
Expected Field Goal Percentage (xEFG%) and Shot Quality
Second Spectrum optical tracking cameras compute Shot Quality (qSQ) based on defender proximity distance, shooter speed, and court location, evaluating whether a player's TS% over-performed or under-performed their shot quality distribution.
Points Per Possession (PPP) in Play-Type Analytics
Synergy Sports optical tracking systems categorize every offensive basketball possession into tactical play-types, measuring individual scoring efficiency in Points Per Possession (PPP):
- Transition Fastbreaks: 1.15 to 1.30 PPP (Highest efficiency open-court scoring).
- Pick-and-Roll Ball Handler: 0.85 to 0.98 PPP (Standard half-court engine).
- Spot-Up Catch-and-Shoot: 1.05 to 1.20 PPP (Premier spacing weapon).
- Isolation Scoring: 0.82 to 0.95 PPP (Difficult contested shot profile; only elite isolation creators like James Harden or Kevin Durant exceed 1.05 PPP).
Usage Rate (USG%) vs. True Shooting Efficiency Curves
In basketball analytics, an athlete's Usage Percentage (USG%) measures the percentage of team plays used by that player while on court.
Historically, as usage rate increases above 30%, individual TS% declines due to defensive focus and fatigue. Modern NBA MVPs (such as Nikola Jokić and Stephen Curry) are historically unique for maintaining 65%+ TS% even while carrying heavy 32%+ usage rates, breaking traditional efficiency curves.
Free Throw Rate (FTr) and Offensive Gravity
In modern analytics, a player's Free Throw Rate (FTr = FTA / FGA) measures physical paint penetration and aggressive rim pressure.
High-FTr slashers consistently generate cheap, high-efficiency 75%+ free throw opportunities (worth 1.50+ PPP), anchoring elite team True Shooting efficiency even during cold outside shooting nights.
Individual TS% vs. Team Offensive Rating
Lineups featuring four or five high-efficiency shooters (> 60% TS%) force opposing defenses into impossible perimeter rotation closeouts, creating elite team Offensive Ratings exceeding 118 to 122 points per 100 possessions.
Corner vs. Above-the-Break 3-Point Analytics
Modern NBA shot distribution prioritizes short corner 3-pointers (worth approx. 1.15 PPP) generated from high-post drive-and-kick passes over contested above-the-break wing jumpers.