NBA Stats Glossary
Player Efficiency Rating
Also: PER
A per-minute summary stat that rates a player's total box-score production.
Definition
PER compresses points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and missed shots into a single number, standardized so league average is always 15.0. It favors high-usage players and doesn't account for defense well beyond block/steal.
Formula
Complex; league-average always normalized to 15.0
Example
A PER above 25 is MVP-level. 20–25 is All-NBA. 15 is average. Below 10 is replacement-level.
Why it matters for research
PER is a quick summary of overall player value, but note its limitations: it overrates high-volume scorers and underrates defensive specialists.
Related terms
An estimate of a player's per-100-possession contribution vs a league-average player, derived from box score stats.
The percentage of team plays that end with a given player's shot, turnover, or free throw attempt while they're on the floor.
A shooting efficiency metric that weights 2-pointers, 3-pointers, and free throws into a single percentage.
Apply Player Efficiency 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.