How to Calculate Points Per Shot in Basketball

When watching or playing basketball, calculating points per shot is a good way to figure out how efficiently a specific player performs offensively. The more points per shot a player averages, the better. After a few steps, you will learn how to calculate points per shot in basketball.

Instructions

    • 1

      Track how many field goal attempts a player shoots. A field goal attempt is any attempted shot during play other than free-throws. Both two-pointers and three-pointers count as one field goal attempt.

    • 2

      Total how many points a player scores. These points can come in any manner including two-pointers, three-pointers and free throws.

    • 3

      Use a calculator, and divide the total number of points by the total number of field goal attempts. The resulting number is known as points per shot in basketball. For example, if a player scores 20 points and has 12 field goal attempts, his points per shot is 1.7. It's customary to round the number to the nearest tenth.

    • 4

      Monitor a player's points per shot statistic over a series of games. One game isn't a very good indicator of how efficient a player is offensively. You want to use a sample size of at least ten games to get a better idea on the true efficiency of a player.

    • 5

      Compare the statistic to other players on the same team. By comparing points per shot, you can figure out who makes the best use of their field goal attempts. If you are using points per shot for your own team, it can help you find players on the team who should be the first options on offense.