“A player scored 12 points, but did they really help the team?” The point total alone cannot answer that. This guide is for coaches and stat-minded families who want a broader view of player contribution. It explains TS%, a measure of scoring efficiency, and USG%, a measure of how much of the offense a player uses, then shows how to read them together.
I develop BoardStrategist, a basketball tactics-board and scorebook app. The formulas below follow commonly published definitions; where the app uses a different calculation, that difference is stated separately.
What is TS%?
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) estimates scoring efficiency by relating points scored to field-goal and free-throw attempts:
TS% = Points ÷ (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA))
FGA means field-goal attempts; FTA means free-throw attempts. The NBA’s statistics glossary describes true shooting as accounting for two-point shots, three-pointers, and free throws. The B.LEAGUE stats glossary also lists it as a measure of shooting efficiency.
FG% counts makes over attempts, treating a made two and a made three as one make each, and excludes free throws. TS% uses points scored in the numerator, so the value of made threes and points from free throws is reflected in the result.
The 0.44 coefficient adjusts for the fact that not every free-throw attempt uses a full possession. For example, the first shot in a two-shot sequence and some technical free throws do not add a new possession. The coefficient is an approximation that converts free-throw attempts into an estimate of possessions used.
It also helps to distinguish effective field-goal percentage (eFG%). Its formula is (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA, adjusting for the extra point from a three-pointer. It does not include free throws. The Four Factors guide discusses team eFG%.
What is USG%?
Usage Percentage (USG%) estimates what share of a team’s offensive possessions a player uses while on the court. A player uses a possession by ending it with a field-goal attempt, free-throw attempt, or turnover.
In the common formula, the team possessions in the denominator are adjusted to the time that the player was on the court. With five players on the floor, an average player’s usage is roughly 20% over the same playing time.
USG% measures volume, not quality. A high-usage player is involved in many possessions, but USG% alone cannot tell whether those possessions were efficient. Read it alongside TS%.
Read TS% and USG% as two dimensions
Think of TS% as efficiency and USG% as offensive involvement. The four combinations can help frame a conversation about a player’s role:
High efficiency, high usage
The player is central to the offense while maintaining efficiency. Consider continuing the role and discussing the next option when opponents focus on them.
High efficiency, low usage
The player converts their attempts well but takes fewer of them. This can prompt a conversation about whether there are moments when they can take an open shot, or whether the team can create more of those chances.
Low efficiency, high usage
The player uses many possessions without converting them into as many points. Review shot locations and timing with a shot chart; discuss whether to reduce difficult attempts or pass in more situations.
Low efficiency, low usage
The player contributes less to scoring through these measures. That does not mean they have little value: defense and rebounding may be important contributions. Include other measures, such as steals and blocks, before drawing conclusions.
See the guide to one-on-one player feedback meetings for ideas on discussing performance.
Using these measures in mini-basketball and school teams
When the game has no three-point line
The mini-basketball rules described in the Japanese source do not include a three-point line. With no three-point attempts, eFG% equals FG%. TS% still differs from FG% when free-throw points and attempts are included. The TS% formula remains usable without three-pointers.
A single game can swing widely
If a player takes only a few shots in one game, one make or miss can move TS% substantially. Avoid judging from a single game; line up several games to look for a pattern.
Do not import NBA benchmarks directly
Online articles sometimes offer NBA league averages as reference points. Those levels change by season and league, and there is no established benchmark here for mini-basketball or school teams. Compare players with the team average or with their own earlier games instead.
TS% and USG% in BoardStrategist
When you record a game in BoardStrategist, the game’s statistics screen shows each player’s TS% and USG% on the Individual Detail tab. The same table includes eFG%, rebounds, assists, Stocks (steals plus blocks), Game Score, contribution, and +/-. You can switch home/away views, and the table includes formulas under “How to read the metrics.” These are per-game individual details, not metrics shown on season career pages.
BoardStrategist uses the TS% formula above. Its USG% is a simplified in-game version that does not adjust for minutes played. It is calculated as:
Player USG% = (FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TO) ÷ Team possessions × 100
Team possessions = sum across registered players of (FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TO − offensive rebounds)
Because playing time is not used, a player who played fewer minutes may have a lower value simply because they had fewer attempts. Since offensive rebounds are subtracted from the denominator, the team’s player USG% values may add up to slightly more than 100%. This simplified value will not match the common minutes-adjusted definition; use it for comparisons within the same team and game.
Game Score is a separate composite measure that combines points, rebounds, assists, and other box-score events. Do not confuse it with TS% or USG%.
Frequently asked questions
How is TS% different from FG%?
FG% is the share of field-goal attempts made, counts a two and a three as one make each, and excludes free throws. TS% relates points to field-goal and free-throw attempts, so it reflects the scoring value of threes and free throws. In a format without threes, the free-throw points and attempts account for the difference.
Is a higher USG% always better?
No. USG% shows how much of the offense a player uses; it is not an efficiency or quality score. Read it together with TS%.
Can I use these stats for mini-basketball or school teams?
The formulas can be used, but do not apply NBA reference levels. Compare players with the team or with their own performance over multiple games. Small attempt totals make one-game values volatile.
Why does the app’s USG% differ from a standard formula?
The game screen uses a simplified version without minutes played. It divides a player’s FGA + 0.44 × FTA + turnovers by a team-possession estimate built from all registered players’ attempts, free throws, turnovers, and offensive rebounds. Because the denominator subtracts offensive rebounds, player values may total slightly more than 100%. Use it as an in-game team comparison, not as the standard minutes-adjusted formula.
Sources
- NBA Stats glossary (stat definitions)
- B.LEAGUE statistics