TS Calculator (True Shooting)
Table of Contents
- 1 What Is True Shooting Percentage?
- 2 How to Calculate True Shooting Percentage
- 3 Why the 0.44 Multiplier Matters
- 4 Interpreting Your TS% Result
- 5 TS% vs eFG%: What’s the Difference?
- 6 Examples of Elite True Shooting Percentages
- 7 When to Use True Shooting Percentage
- 8 Common Mistakes When Interpreting TS%
- 9 Why TS% Matters More Than Ever
The True Shooting Percentage (TS%) Calculator helps basketball players, coaches, and fans understand how efficiently a player converts scoring opportunities into points.
Unlike basic field goal percentage, TS% takes into account two-point shots, three-pointers, and free throws to show the player’s true scoring effectiveness.
It is one of the most accurate and widely used advanced stats in modern basketball analytics.
What Is True Shooting Percentage?
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is a measure of a player’s scoring efficiency that combines all shooting types into one value.
It evaluates how effectively a player scores relative to their total shooting opportunities, including free throws, which most traditional metrics ignore.
Because it accounts for every way a player can score, TS% provides a fair comparison between players with different styles of play.
The formula for TS% is simple and powerful:
TS% = Points ÷ (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)) × 100
Where:
- Points = total points scored
- FGA = field goal attempts
- FTA = free throw attempts
This equation balances every scoring opportunity and rewards players who can score efficiently from both the field and the free-throw line.
How to Calculate True Shooting Percentage
Calculating TS% is straightforward when you understand the components involved.
It only requires three key statistics: total points, field goal attempts, and free throw attempts.
Once you have those numbers, you can follow a clear step-by-step process to find the result.
- Gather your player’s stats: total points, field goal attempts (FGA), and free throw attempts (FTA).
- Multiply free throw attempts by 0.44.
- Add that number to the field goal attempts.
- Multiply the result by 2.
- Divide total points by that number.
- Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage.
For example, if a player scores 32 points, attempts 18 field goals, and 10 free throws, the calculation would be:
TS% = 32 ÷ [2 × (18 + 0.44 × 10)] = 71.4%
That’s an elite efficiency level, typical for top-tier scorers.
Why the 0.44 Multiplier Matters
The constant 0.44 in the TS% formula often raises questions.
It exists because not every free throw represents a full possession in basketball.
Free throws awarded for technical fouls, flagrant fouls, or “and-one” plays occur without consuming a new possession, so they are weighted less in the total attempts.
Historically, basketball statisticians found that roughly 44% of all free throw attempts fall into these partial-possession situations.
This adjustment makes the TS% formula more accurate and consistent across all types of plays and players.
Interpreting Your TS% Result
Knowing your TS% is one thing, but understanding what it means is where the insight comes in.
Different TS% ranges indicate varying levels of scoring efficiency, and context — such as era and role — always matters.
Still, general benchmarks can help you quickly interpret performance.
| TS% Range | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Below 50% | Poor | Inefficient scoring; indicates low shot quality or accuracy. |
| 50–55% | Average | Typical for players taking a high number of shots or creating their own looks. |
| 55–58% | Good | Efficient and selective scoring, often within offensive systems. |
| 58–60% | Very Good | Excellent efficiency for consistent scorers. |
| Above 60% | Elite | Exceptional performance — often seen in MVP-level or highly efficient players. |
The NBA league average currently sits around 57–58%, up from about 51% two decades ago.
This improvement reflects how modern spacing, shot selection, and three-point shooting have reshaped offensive efficiency.
TS% vs eFG%: What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse True Shooting Percentage (TS%) with Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%), but they measure slightly different things.
Both aim to show scoring efficiency, yet each focuses on a different aspect of shooting.
- eFG% adjusts regular field goal percentage to give extra weight to three-pointers, but it does not include free throws.
- TS% includes every scoring opportunity — two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws — offering a more complete picture of efficiency.
For players who often draw fouls, like Joel Embiid or James Harden, TS% provides a more realistic measure of efficiency because it factors in their ability to earn and make free throws.
Meanwhile, for three-point specialists who rarely get fouled, both TS% and eFG% will show similar results.
Examples of Elite True Shooting Percentages
Looking at professional players provides helpful context for what elite TS% looks like.
Across different eras and styles, some of the best scorers in basketball history have maintained remarkably high TS% values.
- Stephen Curry — regularly posts over 62% TS%, with a career-best 66.9% during his 2015–16 MVP season.
- Nikola Jokić — consistently around 64–66%, combining inside efficiency with strong free throw shooting.
- LeBron James — career 59% TS%, demonstrating efficient scoring over two decades of high usage.
- Michael Jordan — career 56.9% TS%, well above the league average of his era.
These numbers highlight that elite scorers balance high volume with high efficiency, a combination that defines offensive greatness.
When to Use True Shooting Percentage
True Shooting Percentage is one of the most valuable tools in modern basketball analytics.
It allows comparisons across playing styles, positions, and eras, offering insights that traditional stats simply can’t provide.
TS% is particularly useful in several situations where efficiency matters most.
- Comparing scorers who rely on different shot types or play roles.
- Evaluating offensive efficiency across a team or system.
- Identifying efficient players for fantasy basketball or scouting purposes.
- Measuring a player’s ability to convert possessions into points effectively.
However, TS% is not perfect for every scenario.
It can become misleading for players who take very few shots or play limited minutes, since small sample sizes exaggerate results.
Common Mistakes When Interpreting TS%
Even though TS% is one of the best efficiency metrics, it’s often misunderstood or misused.
To interpret it properly, you should always consider volume, context, and player role before drawing conclusions.
- Ignoring shot volume: High TS% on a few attempts doesn’t equal elite efficiency at scale.
- Ignoring player role: Role players often have higher TS% than primary scorers because they take easier shots.
- Ignoring era differences: Comparing TS% across decades without adjusting for context leads to false impressions.
- Ignoring shot difficulty: TS% doesn’t measure how hard shots are to create — just how efficiently they’re converted.
By combining TS% with other metrics like usage rate and assist percentage, analysts get a far deeper understanding of a player’s real offensive impact.
Why TS% Matters More Than Ever
In the modern basketball era, where spacing and pace dominate, True Shooting Percentage has become one of the most critical indicators of performance.
High TS% players don’t just score — they maximize possessions, take smart shots, and contribute efficiently within a system.
For teams, fantasy managers, and analysts, this metric helps separate volume scorers from truly valuable offensive contributors.
Whether you’re comparing players, analyzing trends, or improving your own efficiency, the True Shooting Percentage Calculator gives you the most complete picture of scoring performance available today.
Based on 1 source
- 1. Oliver, D. (2004). Basketball on Paper: Rules and Tools for Performance Analysis. Potomac Books, Inc.
TS Calculator (True Shooting) - FAQ
True shooting percentage measures scoring efficiency by accounting for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws in one number. It answers "how many points does this player produce per shooting possession?" The formula divides total points by twice the sum of field goal attempts plus 0.44 times free throw attempts, then multiplies by 100. TS% gives three-pointers proper weight (they're worth 50% more than two-pointers) and adjusts for free throws that don't consume full possessions. This makes it more accurate than traditional field goal percentage for evaluating scoring efficiency.
Calculate TS% using this formula: TS% = Points ÷ (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)) × 100. Multiply free throw attempts by 0.44, add that to field goal attempts, multiply the sum by 2, divide points by that number, then multiply by 100. Example: For 28 points, 20 field goal attempts, and 8 free throw attempts - (8 × 0.44) = 3.52, plus 20 = 23.52, times 2 = 47.04, so 28 ÷ 47.04 = 0.595, times 100 = 59.5% TS%. The 0.44 multiplier accounts for free throws from technical fouls and and-ones that don't use separate possessions.
A good TS% depends on era and role, but currently anything above 55% shows solid efficiency. The 55-58% range indicates good scoring effectiveness, 58-60% is very good, and 60%+ marks elite efficiency. NBA league average sits around 57-58% currently. Volume scorers who create their own shots typically range from 55-59% TS%, while role players and centers often exceed 60%. Context matters—a player maintaining 58% TS% while averaging 28 points per game demonstrates more value than someone posting 62% TS% with 12 points per game on mostly assisted shots.
The 0.44 multiplier adjusts for free throws that don't consume full possessions. Not all free throw attempts follow standard two-shot fouls—technical fouls, flagrant fouls, and and-ones award free throws without burning a new possession. When a player makes a layup and gets fouled, they've already attempted and made the field goal; the bonus free throw adds value without requiring another shot attempt. Historical NBA data shows roughly 44% of free throw attempts come from non-standard situations. Some analysts use 0.475, but 0.44 has become the standard in advanced metrics.
Stephen Curry's career TS% sits around 62.4%, consistently elite throughout his career. During his historic 2015-16 MVP season, Curry posted 66.9% TS% while averaging 30.1 points per game—remarkable efficiency at high volume. His combination of elite three-point shooting (42.6% career average from deep), solid mid-range game, and strong free throw percentage creates exceptional scoring efficiency. Curry regularly ranks among league leaders in TS%, demonstrating that even high-volume scorers can maintain elite efficiency with proper shot selection and elite shooting skills.
Michael Jordan's career TS% was approximately 56.9%, excellent for his era when NBA league average sat around 53%. During his Chicago Bulls championship years, Jordan typically posted 57-58% TS% while scoring 30+ points per game. His efficiency was even more impressive considering he played in a slower-paced, more physical era with less spacing and fewer three-point attempts. Jordan's combination of mid-range mastery, rim attacks, and solid free throw shooting drove his efficiency. When he returned to play for the Washington Wizards in his 40s, his TS% dropped to around 48%, reflecting age-related decline.
Kobe Bryant's career TS% was approximately 55.0%, solid but not elite by modern standards. Kobe's high-volume scoring approach and difficult shot selection contributed to his efficiency numbers. During his peak years in the mid-2000s, Bryant typically posted TS% in the 55-58% range while carrying enormous offensive loads and taking many contested shots. His ability to create shots in isolation situations meant he often attempted difficult, heavily-contested attempts that naturally lowered his efficiency. Bryant's scoring prowess came from shot-making ability rather than shot selection optimization—a different approach than modern efficiency-focused stars.
Yes, true shooting percentage is one of basketball's most valuable efficiency metrics because it captures all scoring methods in one number. Unlike field goal percentage, TS% properly weights three-pointers and accounts for free throws, making it superior for comparing players across different scoring styles. However, TS% has limitations—it doesn't measure shot creation difficulty, defensive impact, playmaking, or context like garbage time minutes. Use TS% alongside other metrics like usage rate, shot attempt volume, and role definition. A player with 59% TS% creating their own shots differs significantly from someone at 63% TS% taking only assisted attempts.
Caitlin Clark posted 58.3% TS% during her outstanding 2024 WNBA rookie season, placing her among elite scorers in the league. This efficiency was particularly impressive given her high usage rate and role as a primary scorer and playmaker. Clark's deep three-point range, ability to draw fouls, and solid free throw percentage contributed to her strong efficiency numbers. Her TS% ranked sixth among the league's top scorers that season, demonstrating she could score at high volume without sacrificing efficiency—a rare combination that validated her status as the number one draft pick.
True shooting percentage (TS%) includes free throws in its calculation, while effective field goal percentage (eFG%) only accounts for field goals. The eFG% formula - (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA - weights three-pointers but ignores free throws entirely. TS% provides a more complete picture of scoring efficiency for players who frequently draw fouls and shoot free throws. For three-point specialists who rarely get to the line, eFG% and TS% show similar values. The gap between these metrics reveals how much a player's free throw game contributes to overall efficiency—use TS% for comprehensive scoring evaluation and eFG% when analyzing pure field goal shooting.
