Sports & Gaming · Statistics · Descriptive Statistics
True Shooting Percentage Calculator
Calculates a basketball player's True Shooting Percentage (TS%), accounting for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws.
Calculator
Formula
PTS = total points scored; FGA = field goal attempts; FTA = free throw attempts. The constant 0.44 approximates the fraction of free throw trips that consume a possession. Multiply the denominator by 2 so the result is on the same scale as a two-point shooting percentage.
Source: Basketball-Reference.com; Dean Oliver, 'Basketball on Paper', 2004.
How it works
True Shooting Percentage is calculated by dividing total points scored by a denominator that weights all shot attempts on an equivalent scale: TS% = PTS / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)). The denominator represents the estimated number of 'true shot attempts' a player uses. Multiplying by 2 converts the result to a percentage comparable to two-point field goal percentage.
The constant 0.44 is the key adjustment factor. Since a free throw trip typically consists of two free throws (but can be one, two, or three), and-one plays only yield one free throw with a made basket, 0.44 corrects for the fact that each individual free throw attempt does not consume a full possession. This constant was derived empirically by Dean Oliver and is widely accepted in basketball analytics.
TS% is used extensively by NBA front offices, sports journalists, and fantasy analysts. It is a superior measure of shooting efficiency compared to field goal percentage or even effective field goal percentage (eFG%), because it also accounts for the value of free throw attempts. An average NBA player typically posts a TS% around 55–56%, while elite scorers often exceed 60%.
Worked example
Example: A player scores 28 points on 20 field goal attempts and 8 free throw attempts.
Step 1 — Identify the inputs: PTS = 28, FGA = 20, FTA = 8.
Step 2 — Calculate the adjusted denominator: 2 × (20 + 0.44 × 8) = 2 × (20 + 3.52) = 2 × 23.52 = 47.04.
Step 3 — Divide points by the denominator: 28 / 47.04 ≈ 0.5952.
Step 4 — Multiply by 100 to express as a percentage: TS% ≈ 59.52%. This falls in the 'Above Average' tier, indicating very good scoring efficiency for an NBA player.
Limitations & notes
True Shooting Percentage assumes the 0.44 constant is universally applicable, but this value can vary slightly by era, league level, or individual player (e.g., players who frequently draw and-one fouls may have a lower effective free throw factor). At the high school or amateur level, a slightly different constant may be more accurate. TS% also tells you nothing about shot selection quality, assists, or offensive role — a player attempting only dunks and layups will have an artificially high TS%. Additionally, TS% is less meaningful for players with very low shot volumes, where small sample sizes make the metric unreliable. Always interpret TS% alongside context such as usage rate and role.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good True Shooting Percentage in the NBA?
The league average TS% in the NBA typically falls between 55% and 57%. A TS% above 60% is considered elite, while anything below 50% is generally poor for a primary scorer. Centers and big men often post higher TS% due to high-percentage shots near the rim, while mid-range heavy guards may score lower.
Why is 0.44 used in the True Shooting Percentage formula?
The constant 0.44 was empirically derived by basketball analyst Dean Oliver to account for the fact that a single free throw attempt does not always represent a full possession. And-one plays, three-shot fouls, and technical fouls all affect this ratio. On average, across all free throw situations, each individual FTA represents approximately 0.44 of a possession. Some analysts use 0.475 for college basketball.
How is True Shooting Percentage different from Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)?
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) adjusts raw field goal percentage to account for the extra value of three-point shots using the formula eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) / FGA. True Shooting Percentage goes further by also incorporating free throw attempts and free throw makes, making it a more complete measure of overall scoring efficiency.
Can True Shooting Percentage exceed 100%?
Theoretically yes, but only in extreme edge cases with very small sample sizes — for example, if a player scores 3 points on 1 FGA and 0 FTA (a three-pointer), TS% = 3 / (2 × 1) = 150%. Over any meaningful sample of attempts, TS% will remain well below 100% because no player scores on every shot. Treat results above 100% as statistical noise from insufficient data.
Should I use TS% for a single game or a full season?
TS% is most reliable over large sample sizes — ideally a full season or at least 200+ field goal attempts. Single-game TS% can be extremely volatile due to variance in shooting luck and free throw trips. For game-by-game analysis, treat TS% as directional rather than definitive. Season-long TS% is the standard metric used by NBA front offices and analysts.
Does True Shooting Percentage account for three-point shots separately?
Yes, indirectly. Three-point shots are already included in the FGA count, and their extra value is captured through the points total (PTS). A made three-pointer contributes 3 points to the numerator while only adding 1 to the FGA count in the denominator, so players who make threes efficiently are rewarded with a higher TS%. This is one of the key advantages TS% has over plain field goal percentage.
Last updated: 2025-01-30 · Formula verified against primary sources.