Estimate a basketball player’s efficiency rating (PER) from one box-score line and minutes, with NBA efficiency (EFF) and points included.
How the Player Efficiency Rating Calculator Works
This page uses a published simplified linear-weights expression that rewards productive box-score events, subtracts missed shots, fouls, and turnovers, then divides by minutes. It intentionally labels the answer as an estimate because official Hollinger PER also adjusts for pace and normalizes each season to a league average of 15.
Formula: Estimated linear-weights PER = [85.910 FGM + 53.897 STL + 51.757 3PM + 46.845 FTM + 39.190 BLK + 39.190 OREB + 34.677 AST + 14.707 DREB - 17.174 PF - 20.091(FTA - FTM) - 39.190(FGA - FGM) - 53.897 TOV] / MIN
Choosing the Right Inputs
Enter one player's complete box-score line and minutes from the same sample. Field goals made include made three-pointers, so 3PM cannot exceed FGM. Likewise, makes cannot exceed their corresponding attempts.
| Positive event | Weight | Negative event | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field goal made | 85.910 | Personal foul | 17.174 |
| Steal | 53.897 | Missed free throw | 20.091 |
| Three-pointer made | 51.757 | Missed field goal | 39.190 |
| Free throw made | 46.845 | Turnover | 53.897 |
| Block or offensive rebound | 39.190 | Minutes | Final divisor |
| Assist | 34.677 | Official pace adjustment | Not included |
| Defensive rebound | 14.707 | Season normalization | Not included |
Understanding Your Results
The estimated rating leads, followed by minutes, positive contributions, deductions, the net weighted numerator, and total rebounds. These traces make the result auditable rather than hiding the model behind one number.
Worked Example
For 36 minutes with 7-of-15 shooting, two made threes, 4-of-5 free throws, two offensive and five defensive rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two fouls, and three turnovers, the simplified estimate is about 22.7.
Assumptions and Limitations
This result is not official PER and should not be compared as if it were pace-adjusted or normalized to a league-season average of 15. It also inherits the limitations of box scores and fixed historical coefficients.
Sources
Zach Fein. Cracking the Code: How to Calculate Hollinger's PER Without All the Mess, 2009.
John Hollinger. Player Efficiency Rating methodology, ESPN, 2005.
