NBA Stats Glossary

Net Rating

Also: NetRtg · Net

Offensive rating minus defensive rating. The most complete single measure of a team or lineup's quality.

Definition

Net rating is the difference between a team's (or lineup's) offensive and defensive rating. It's the single best summary stat for team quality — it captures both ends of the floor in one number, normalized to 100 possessions.

Formula

Net Rating = ORTG − DRTG

Example

A net rating of +10 over a full season is championship-contender level. +5 is a top-4 team. 0 is average. −5 is a lottery team.

Why it matters for research

When researching matchups, the team with the bigger net rating usually has a structural edge. For lineup-specific research, a lineup net rating over +10 in a meaningful sample is a strong signal.

Related terms

Offensive Rating

Points scored per 100 possessions. Standardizes scoring across different paces.

Defensive Rating

Points allowed per 100 possessions. Lower is better.

Pace

The number of possessions a team uses per 48 minutes. Higher pace means more possessions, which inflates counting stats.

Apply Net Rating in research

Ask any NBA question using this metric. The assistant pulls the actual numbers and explains what they mean for tonight's lines.

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