True Shooting Percentage Calculator (TS%)
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is the gold standard for measuring basketball scoring efficiency. Unlike basic field goal percentage, TS% accounts for the different point values of two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws in a single number. Enter a player's points, field goal attempts, free throw attempts, and optionally three-point makes to see TS%, effective field goal percentage (eFG%), and true shooting attempts (TSA) side by side.
Formula
Worked example
A player scores 28 points on 19 field goal attempts, 8 free throw attempts, and makes 3 three-pointers on 10 total field goals made: TSA = 19 + 0.44 x 8 = 22.52; TS% = 28 / (2 x 22.52) = 28 / 45.04 = 62.2%. eFG% = (10 + 0.5 x 3) / 19 = 11.5 / 19 = 60.5%. The 1.7 percentage-point gap shows that getting to the free-throw line added efficiency beyond just field goal shooting.
What is True Shooting Percentage?
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is the most complete single-number measure of basketball scoring efficiency. While basic field goal percentage treats all made shots equally and ignores free throws, TS% combines two-point field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws into one unified efficiency metric. The formula was developed and popularised by Basketball Reference and is used league-wide by NBA teams, analysts, and broadcasters. A higher TS% means a player converts more of their scoring opportunities into actual points, regardless of how they generate those opportunities.
How the formula works - and what 0.44 means
The formula is TS% = Points / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA)). The denominator represents "true shooting attempts" (TSA), weighting each free throw attempt at 0.44 rather than 0.5. Why not 0.5? Because not every free throw attempt comes from a standard two-shot foul. And-one fouls produce one FTA, technical fouls produce one uncontested FTA, and three-shot fouls produce three FTAs. Across a full season, the typical ratio of free-throw trips to total FTAs works out to roughly 0.44, so the coefficient corrects the denominator for real-game patterns. The factor of 2 in the denominator anchors the scale so a player who only took two-point shots and made every single one would score exactly 100%.
TS% vs. eFG% - which should you use?
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) adjusts field goal percentage for the extra value of three-pointers using the formula eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA. It is simpler but ignores free throws entirely, so it undervalues players who get to the line often and overvalues those who rarely do. TS% adds the free-throw layer, making it more accurate for comparing scorers with different offensive profiles: a post player who scores mostly on free throws will look far better in TS% than in eFG%, while a spot-up three-point specialist might rank similarly in both. When you want a single number, TS% is the better choice. Use eFG% when you specifically want to isolate field goal efficiency without the free-throw dimension.
Interpreting TS% for a game, a season, or a career
The NBA league average TS% sits near 56% in most modern seasons. Players at 60% or above are generating significantly more points per attempt than average, and anything above 65% is exceptional - the career record belongs to Rudy Gobert at about 67.2%, driven by a combination of high-percentage shots near the rim and excellent free-throw conversion. Single-game TS% can swing wildly because small sample sizes amplify every make and miss, so it is most meaningful across a full season or career. When evaluating a game line, always look at TS% alongside shot volume: a 70% TS% on four attempts tells you much less than a 65% TS% on 25 attempts.
TS% performance benchmarks
| TS% | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Below 50% | Poor | Well below average; inefficient shot diet or poor execution |
| 50% to 54.9% | Below average | Below the NBA average; improvement needed |
| 55% to 57.9% | Average | Near the NBA league average (~56.1%) |
| 58% to 62.9% | Above average | Efficient scorer; above most NBA regulars |
| 63% to 64.9% | Excellent | All-Star caliber efficiency |
| 65% and above | Elite | Historical records (Rudy Gobert career: 67.2%) |
Approximate thresholds based on NBA historical data. League average hovers near 56% in recent seasons.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good True Shooting Percentage in basketball?
The NBA league average TS% typically sits around 55 to 57%. A TS% of 60% or higher is considered above average and indicates efficient scoring. Elite players and All-Stars often sustain TS% above 63%, and anything above 65% is exceptional. For context, Rudy Gobert holds the career record at approximately 67.2%, while Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant both maintain career marks above 62%.
Why does the TS% formula use 0.44 instead of 0.5 for free throws?
The 0.44 coefficient corrects for the fact that not all free throw attempts come in pairs. And-one fouls produce only one free throw, technical fouls award one uncontested attempt, and three-shot fouls award three attempts. When you average across all types of free-throw situations in an NBA season, each free-throw trip translates to roughly 0.44 attempts on a per-possession basis. Using 0.5 would slightly overcount free throw attempts in the denominator, making scores artificially lower than they should be.
What is the difference between TS% and effective field goal percentage (eFG%)?
eFG% adjusts basic field goal percentage for the bonus value of three-pointers: eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA. It does not include free throws at all. TS% goes further by incorporating free throw attempts via the 0.44 coefficient, making it a more complete measure. A player who draws many fouls and converts free throws efficiently will have a noticeably higher TS% than eFG%, while a player who rarely goes to the line will see little difference between the two numbers.
Can True Shooting Percentage exceed 100%?
Theoretically, yes, though it is extremely rare. If a player scores points exclusively via free throws (and-ones or technical fouls) without recording any field goal attempts, the denominator shrinks dramatically. In practice, the situation arises most often in tiny sample sizes: a player who enters a game, draws a foul, and makes both free throws without attempting a field goal can post an astronomical TS%. Over any meaningful sample, TS% stays well below 100%.
Does True Shooting Percentage account for shot difficulty?
No. TS% measures outcomes, not process. A mid-range pull-up jumper and an open corner three are treated the same if they both go in. It also does not factor in shot location, shot quality, or defensive pressure. For a fuller picture of shot quality and selection, analysts pair TS% with shot charts, expected points per shot, or measures like estimated plus-minus.
How many attempts do I need for TS% to be meaningful?
Single-game TS% is highly volatile and should be read cautiously. A reasonable sample for meaningful analysis is roughly 200 or more true shooting attempts, which corresponds to a significant stretch of regular-season games. Over a full NBA season (around 1,000 to 1,500 TSA for a starter), TS% stabilises into a reliable measure of a player's true scoring efficiency.