True Shooting Percentage (TS%) Calculator

About the True Shooting Percentage (TS%) Calculator

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is the most comprehensive single measure of scoring efficiency in basketball. Unlike field goal percentage, TS% accounts for the value of three-pointers and the "free" points from free throws by incorporating all scoring attempts into one number. The formula weights free throw attempts at 0.44 (not 0.5) because and-one plays and technical free throws create "extra" attempts.

League-average TS% in the NBA has risen steadily from roughly 52% in the 1990s to the upper-50% range in the modern three-point era. A TS% of 60%+ is considered elite, 55-60% is above average, and below 50% indicates inefficient scoring. The metric is especially valuable for comparing players with different shot profiles—a player hitting 45% from two but 38% from three and 85% at the line may have the same TS% as someone shooting 52% from two with few threes.

This calculator computes TS% from box score stats, compares it to league averages and all-time leaders, and provides context about scoring volume efficiency.

When This Page Helps

Accurately measure scoring efficiency, compare players across eras and shot profiles, and identify the most efficient scorers in basketball.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter total points scored
2. Enter field goal attempts and free throw attempts
3. Optionally add three-point data for breakdown analysis
4. Review TS% and league comparison
5. Check efficiency rating and historical percentile
6. Compare across seasons or players using the multi-entry mode

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• Always pair TS% with volume (PPG, usage rate) for meaningful evaluation
• Compare to league average TS% for the specific era, not a fixed baseline
• TS% above 60% at 20+ PPG is elite—only ~10-15 players per NBA season achieve this
• Role players often have inflated TS% because they only take easy shots
• Relative TS% (player TS% minus league average) is more useful for cross-era comparison
• Free throw rate (FTA/FGA) is the hidden driver—drawing fouls boosts TS% dramatically

TS% and the Three-Point Revolution

The modern NBA's shift toward three-point shooting has fundamentally changed scoring efficiency. A 35% three-point shooter and a 52.5% two-point shooter produce identical points per shot (1.05 per attempt). Since league-average three-point percentage hovers around 36%, the three has become the more efficient shot for many players, driving up league-wide TS%.

Historical TS% Leaders Among Volume Scorers

Among players averaging 25+ PPG for a season, Steph Curry's mid-2010s peak and the early-2010s efficiency peaks from Kevin Durant and LeBron James stand out as historically dominant examples. These represent elite scoring volume paired with remarkable efficiency. For context, Michael Jordan's best TS% season was 61.4% in 1988-89—still exceptional but below modern elite levels due to era differences.

Beyond TS%: Points Per Possession

While TS% is one of the clearest per-shot efficiency metrics, points per possession (PPP) from play-type data provides even more context. A player might have 58% TS% overall but score 1.2 PPP in pick-and-roll and only 0.85 PPP in isolation. Combining TS% with play-type efficiency paints the complete scoring picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is 0.44 used instead of 0.5 for free throws?

  Because not every free throw attempt represents a "possession cost." And-one free throws, technical free throws, and flagrant foul shots don't cost a possession. The 0.44 coefficient empirically adjusts for this, making TS% a better representation of points-per-possession efficiency.

• What is a good TS%?

  In the modern NBA: Below 52% = poor, 52-55% = below average, 55-57% = average, 57-60% = above average, 60-64% = elite, 65%+ = historically great (usually low-volume players or dominant big men).

• Does TS% account for volume?

  No, and that's both a feature and a limitation. A player scoring 30 ppg on 60% TS% is far more valuable than one scoring 8 ppg on 65% TS%. Always consider TS% alongside scoring volume for a complete picture.

• Who has the highest career TS% in NBA history?

  Among players with significant minutes, DeAndre Jordan holds a high mark around 65%, but he scored almost exclusively on dunks/lobs. Among scorers (20+ ppg), players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James have career TS% in the 60-62% range—remarkable for high-volume scorers.

• How has league-average TS% changed over time?

  1980s: ~53%. 1990s: ~52%. 2000s: ~53%. 2010s: ~54-55%. 2020s: ~57-58%. The increase is driven by the three-point revolution, analytics-driven shot selection (fewer long twos), and improved free-throw shooting.

• Is TS% better than eFG%?

  For overall scoring efficiency, yes. eFG% accounts for three-pointers but ignores free throws entirely. A player who draws fouls and shoots 85% from the line would be undervalued by eFG%. TS% captures the full scoring picture.