How true shooting percentage works
True shooting percentage measures scoring efficiency across every way a player puts points on the
board — two-pointers, three-pointers and free throws — in one number. The formula is
TS% = PTS / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)) × 100. Plain field goal percentage treats a made
three the same as a made two and ignores free throws entirely; TS% fixes both, which is why it is
the standard shorthand for how efficiently a player scores. Elite scorers reach about 62%
or higher, while the modern NBA average sits around 57–58%.
Why 0.44?
The 0.44 coefficient estimates how many possessions a set of free-throw attempts
actually used. Because some free throws come on and-one plays or technical fouls — where no full
possession was spent — analysts found the real figure averages about 0.44 of a possession per free
throw rather than a flat 0.5. Using 0.44 makes the possession estimate, and therefore the efficiency
number, more accurate.
How to read the result
TS% is the go-to number for total scoring efficiency, but it does not measure shot creation, defense or playmaking. It pairs naturally with effective field goal percentage, which grades shooting from the field alone. For the full breakdown, read true shooting percentage explained, and see what effective field goal percentage is for the field-goals-only companion stat.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate true shooting percentage?
True shooting percentage is points divided by the total shooting possessions used, then converted to a percentage: TS% = PTS / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)) × 100. The 2 in the denominator accounts for two points being the baseline value of a made shot, and the 0.44 estimates how many possessions a set of free-throw attempts actually consumed. The result is a single efficiency number that credits three-pointers and free throws properly, unlike plain field goal percentage.
What is a good TS%?
In the modern NBA, league-average true shooting sits around 57–58%. Roughly 60% is a strong, All-Star-level mark for a high-usage scorer, and 62% or higher is elite efficiency, especially at volume. Below about 54% is inefficient for a primary scorer. Because TS% rewards drawing fouls and hitting threes, the best three-level scorers and rim-pressure guards tend to post the highest figures, while high-volume mid-range shooters sit lower.
Why is there a 0.44 coefficient for free throws?
Not every pair of free throws uses a full possession. Some free throws come on and-one plays (where a field goal was already attempted), some on technical or flagrant fouls, and some trips are three-shot fouls. Analysts studied play-by-play data and found that, on average, free-throw attempts consume about 0.44 of a possession each rather than 0.5. Using 0.44 instead of 0.5 makes the possession estimate — and therefore the efficiency number — more accurate.
How is TS% different from effective field goal percentage?
Both are efficiency stats, but they cover different shots. Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) adjusts field goals so a three-pointer is worth 1.5 times a two-pointer, but it ignores free throws entirely. True shooting percentage goes further and folds free throws into the same number using the 0.44 possession estimate. So a player who gets to the line a lot will look better in TS% than in eFG%. Use eFG% to judge shooting from the field, and TS% to judge total scoring efficiency.
Can true shooting percentage go above 100%?
In theory yes, though it is rare over any meaningful sample. Because the denominator only estimates possessions, a player who scores heavily on and-ones and free throws in a tiny sample can post a TS% above 100%. Over a full game or season it settles into a realistic range — elite seasons top out in the mid-60s to low-70s percent. If you see a number above 100% here, it means the points are very high relative to the shot attempts you entered.