NBA True Shooting (TS%)
Stop using FG%. It mathematically lies to you.
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) measures a player's efficiency at shooting the basketball. It is intended to more accurately calculate a player's shooting than field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three-point field goal percentage taken individually.
The formula is: PTS / (2 * (FGA + 0.44 * FTA))
Why 0.44?
Not all free throws are created equal. Some complete and-ones, some are technicals (no possession used), and some are standard 2-shot or 3-shot fouls. The 0.44 coefficient is an empirical estimation that averages out the value of a free throw attempt across all situations.
Common Mistake
"Player A shoots 50% from the field, Player B shoots 45%. Player A is better."
If Player B takes a high volume of 3-pointers and draws a lot of fouls, his TS% will likely dwarf Player A's, making Player B the more efficient scorer despite the lower raw FG%.
Calculate TS%FAQ
Yes. Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) accounts for 3-pointers, but it ignores free throws completely. Drawing fouls is a highly efficient offensive skill.