NBA Player Efficiency Rating (PER) Calculator

The NBA's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a single-number rating that sums up a player's statistical accomplishments in a game into one figure. Developed by John Hollinger, this metric attempts to boil down the myriad aspects of a player's performance into one number. PER considers a player's accomplishments, such as scoring and assists, and negatives, like missed shots and turnovers, then adjusts for pace of play to give a per-minute rating of a player's performance.

Historical Background

PER was designed to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of a player's performance than traditional statistics. It incorporates a variety of statistical achievements to reflect a player's overall impact on the game.

Calculation Formula

The formula for calculating PER is as follows:

\[ \text{PER} = \frac{\text{Total Points} + \text{Total Rebounds} + \text{Total Assists} + \text{Total Steals} + \text{Total Blocks} - (\text{Field Goals Attempted} - \text{Field Goals Made}) - (\text{Free Throws Attempted} - \text{Free Throws Made}) - \text{Turnovers}}{\text{Games Played}} \]

Example Calculation

For a player who, over the course of 5 games, scores 120 points, grabs 30 rebounds, provides 25 assists, steals the ball 10 times, blocks 5 shots, attempts 90 field goals and makes 45, attempts 20 free throws and makes 15, and commits 12 turnovers:

\[ \text{PER} = \frac{120 + 30 + 25 + 10 + 5 - (90 - 45) - (20 - 15) - 12}{5} = \frac{193}{5} = 38.6 \]

Importance and Usage Scenarios

PER is used to evaluate a player's efficiency and overall contribution to the game beyond traditional metrics. It's widely used by analysts, coaches, and fans to compare players across different positions and eras.

Common FAQs

1. What does PER tell us about a player?

   • PER summarizes a player's statistical achievements in every major category into a single number, adjusted per minute, providing a measure of a player's per-game efficiency and contribution.

2. How is PER adjusted for pace?

   • While the basic PER formula does not directly adjust for pace, Hollinger developed a pace-adjusted version of PER that accounts for the team's pace of play, making comparisons between players in different systems more equitable.

3. Can PER be used to compare players from different eras?

   • Yes, PER can be a useful tool for comparing players from different eras, as it's a standardized metric that adjusts for the varying paces and styles of play across different basketball eras.