True Shooting Percentage Calculator

Enter points scored, field goal attempts, and free throw attempts to calculate True Shooting % and full scoring efficiency breakdown.

Created by Luis GonzalezLast updated: May 9, 2026

How to Use This Calculator

1
Enter Points Scored
Input the total number of points a player or team scored in a game or over a season.
2
Input Field Goal Attempts
Provide the total number of field goal attempts (including both 2-pointers and 3-pointers).
3
Add Free Throw Attempts
Enter the total number of free throw attempts. The formula weights these at 0.44 per attempt.
4
Review Efficiency Metrics
Examine the True Shooting % and other related efficiency ratings to assess offensive performance comprehensively.

Example Calculation

A basketball analyst wants to calculate the True Shooting Percentage for a player who scored 25 points on 18 field goal attempts and 8 free throw attempts.

Points Scored

Field Goal Attempts

Free Throw Attempts

Results

58.1%

Tips

Compare Against League Averages

To properly contextualize a player's TS%, compare it to the league average (e.g., ~56-58% in the NBA for 2025) and top performers. A TS% significantly above average indicates elite efficiency.

Use Over Larger Sample Sizes

TS% is most valuable when calculated over a season or multiple games. Single-game fluctuations can skew the metric, so use it for evaluating consistent performance.

Consider Shot Selection and Role

A high TS% doesn't always mean a player takes difficult shots. Evaluate it in conjunction with their role (e.g., a center taking mostly dunks vs. a guard taking contested jumpers) to understand the full picture.

Unlocking Offensive Efficiency: The True Shooting Percentage Calculator

In modern basketball analytics, True Shooting Percentage (TS%) offers a more comprehensive evaluation of offensive efficiency than traditional metrics. This True Shooting Percentage Calculator helps you compute TS% from a player's points, field goal attempts, and free throw attempts, providing a nuanced understanding of their scoring effectiveness. For an NBA player, achieving a TS% above the current league average of approximately 56-58% in 2025 signals elite offensive output, crucial for team success.

Why True Shooting Percentage Matters in Basketball Analytics

Traditional field goal percentage (FG%) only tells part of the story when evaluating a player's scoring. It treats all made shots equally and ignores free throws, which are valuable scoring opportunities. True Shooting Percentage (TS%) offers a more complete picture by factoring in 3-pointers (which are worth more) and free throws, weighted at 0.44 attempts per shot. This provides a single, unified metric for assessing how efficiently a player converts their scoring attempts into points, guiding player evaluation and strategic decisions for coaches and analysts.

The Math Behind Basketball's Efficiency Rating

The True Shooting Percentage (TS%) calculation accounts for all scoring opportunities by converting free throw attempts into an equivalent number of "true shot attempts." This allows for a more accurate comparison of player efficiency across different scoring styles.

The key formulas are:

true shot attempts (TSA) = field goal attempts + (0.44 × free throw attempts)
true shooting % (TS%) = (points scored / (2 × TSA)) × 100

The factor of 0.44 for free throw attempts is an approximation that accounts for the fact that, on average, two free throws are awarded per foul, and not all fouls result in two attempts (e.g., 3-point fouls, "and-one" situations). It's a widely accepted constant in basketball analytics.

💡 When evaluating player performance, understanding the statistical significance of their numbers is crucial. Our Statistical Power Calculator can help determine the reliability of observed performance differences.

Calculating a Player's True Shooting Percentage

Let's calculate the True Shooting Percentage for a basketball player who had a strong game.

Points Scored: 25 points.
Field Goal Attempts (FGA): 18 attempts.
Free Throw Attempts (FTA): 8 attempts.
Calculate True Shot Attempts (TSA):
- TSA = FGA + (0.44 × FTA)
- TSA = 18 + (0.44 × 8) = 18 + 3.52 = 21.52
Calculate True Shooting Percentage (TS%):
- TS% = (Points Scored / (2 × TSA)) × 100
- TS% = (25 / (2 × 21.52)) × 100 = (25 / 43.04) × 100 ≈ 58.085%

The player's True Shooting % is 58.1%, indicating above-average efficiency compared to the typical NBA average.

💡 To consider different combinations of scoring outcomes, a basic combinatorial tool might be useful for understanding possibilities. Our Stars and Bars Calculator explores ways to distribute items into bins.

Advanced Offensive Efficiency Metrics in Basketball Analytics

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is a cornerstone metric in modern basketball analytics, offering a more robust measure of offensive efficiency compared to simple field goal percentage. It provides a holistic view of how effectively a player converts all their scoring opportunities into points. In the NBA, the league average TS% typically hovers around 56-58% in 2025, with elite offensive players often achieving 60-62% or even higher. Coaches and general managers frequently utilize TS% to evaluate player value, identify efficient scorers, and optimize offensive strategies, especially given that free throws often account for 15-20% of a team's total points.

Limitations and Misinterpretations of True Shooting Percentage

While True Shooting Percentage is a powerful metric, it has limitations and can be misinterpreted if not viewed within context. For example, a player who primarily takes high-percentage shots, such as uncontested layups or dunks, might exhibit a high TS% without necessarily possessing advanced shot-creating skills. The metric also doesn't account for factors like shot difficulty, playmaking ability (assists), or defensive contributions, which are crucial for a player's overall impact. Furthermore, TS% is less reliable for small sample sizes, such as a single game, as statistical fluctuations can heavily skew the result; it is best used for evaluating consistent performance over a season or multiple seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is True Shooting Percentage (TS%) in basketball?

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is an advanced basketball statistic that measures a player's or team's overall scoring efficiency, taking into account field goals (2-pointers and 3-pointers) and free throws. Unlike traditional field goal percentage, TS% provides a more accurate representation of scoring efficiency by giving proper credit for three-pointers and factoring in free throws, where each attempt is weighted as 0.44 of a field goal attempt.

Why is TS% considered a better measure of scoring efficiency than Field Goal Percentage (FG%)?

TS% is considered a better measure of scoring efficiency than FG% because it accounts for all scoring methods, not just successful field goals. FG% treats all made field goals equally, whether a 2-pointer or a 3-pointer, and ignores free throws entirely. TS% gives more credit for 3-pointers (which are worth more points) and includes free throws, which are essentially more efficient scoring opportunities, providing a more holistic view of a player's offensive output per possession.

What is a good True Shooting Percentage in professional basketball?

In professional basketball, a good True Shooting Percentage typically falls around or above the league average, which for the NBA in 2025 is generally in the 56-58% range. Players who consistently achieve 60% or higher are considered elite scorers in terms of efficiency, demonstrating exceptional ability to convert possessions into points across all shot types. Lower percentages, such as below 50%, indicate significant room for improvement in offensive efficiency.