Measuring the efficiency of a scorer in basketball

[Razard86]

There are many ways to measure the efficiency of a scorer but today I will use what I believe based on its applicability is the most accurate. The metric I use if I want to understand how efficient a player is in scoring in basketball is POINTS PER SHOT ATTEMPT. With this metric it accurately includes 3 pointers and can also include freethrows without creating statistical noise that true shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage create.

For example: Player A takes 10 shots and hits 5 of them and each shot was a 2 pointer. This player thus went 5/10 and scored 10 points. Player B takes 10 shots and hits 5 of them and each shot was a 3 pointer. This player thus went 5/10 and scored 15 points. Player A scored 10 points on 10 shots so they scored 1 point per shot. Player B scored 15 points on 10 shots so they scored 1.5 points per shot. 

Now here is a nice insight you can take with you. Many people do not include freethrows as part of the shot attempts. If you want to do this you can. They like to count freethrows as extra points seperate from field goals. But notice this, if you include the points off freethrows it can equal a three pointer, I'll explain. There are two main freethrows in basketball not including technical foul freethrows which are different. There is the foul freethrow which rewards you for attempting to score and being prevented because of a foul (excessive physical contact), and what is referred to as the "And 1" where the same contact was made but since you made the basket we reward you with one extra freethrow. If you attempt a 2 point shot and are fouled and don't make the point you get 2 freethrows worth 1 point an attempt and if you attempt a 3 point shot and are fouled you get 3 freethrows worth 1 point an attempt. 

Now with this understood watch this...

Player A takes 10 shots and hits 5 of them. Player A also got fouled on a 3 point attempt and hit all 3 of them and was fouled on a 2 point attempt and hit 2 of them. So player A went 5/10 from the field, and 5/5 from the freethrow line. If you do not count freethrows as field goal attempts and are still doing Points Per Shot. You could include the points from the freethrows without including those attempts as field goal attempts. As such player A scored 1.5 points per shot on 5/10 shooting because they also hit 5 freethrows. 

If Player B never got fouled and awarded freethrows then even though Player B hit more 3's Player A made up for that differential by drawing fouls and hitting their freethrows. Why is this important? Because the NBA is currently obsessed with the 3 point shot. But your ability to score in the paint effectively and efficiently, draw fouls, and consistently make your freethrows is equivalent to hitting 3's. The only difference is your ability to draw fouls is based on the subjective interpretation of the referees whereas you hitting 3's is based on your ability to shoot the ball.  

^^^^Understand why God makes it hard for Big Men to hit freethrows consistently. If God allowed that to be normal, shorter players wouldn't have a chance. 

Edited November 9, 2023 by Razard86