Game Score Calculator
Estimate a basketball player's single-game performance.
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What is Game Score?
Game Score is a metric developed by basketball analyst John Hollinger to provide a single, comprehensive measure of a player's statistical productivity in a single game. It combines all the positive contributions from a box score (points, rebounds, assists, etc.) and subtracts the negative ones (missed shots, fouls, turnovers) to create a single number.
How is Game Score Calculated?
The formula for Game Score gives a specific weight to each statistical category:
Game Score = PTS + (0.4 × FGM) - (0.7 × FGA) - (0.4 × (FTA - FTM)) + (0.7 × ORB) + (0.3 × DRB) + STL + (0.7 × AST) + (0.7 × BLK) - (0.4 × PF) - TOV
Factors, Applications, and Related Concepts
Game Score is designed to give a rough measure of a player's overall impact in a way that is more comprehensive than points alone, but simpler to calculate than more complex metrics like Player Efficiency Rating (PER).
- Influencing Factors: The score is heavily influenced by scoring efficiency and all-around contributions. A player can achieve a high score through high-volume, efficient scoring or by contributing across the board with rebounds, assists, and defensive stats.
- Practical Applications: It's a quick and easy way to compare single-game performances across different players and eras. A score of 10 is considered average, while a score of 40 or more is an outstanding, MVP-caliber performance.
- Unique Information & Sources: The highest game score ever recorded in an NBA game was 64.6 by Michael Jordan in 1990. For a complete list of the top single-game performances by this metric, you can visit the historical database at Basketball-Reference.com. The metric was first detailed by John Hollinger during his time at ESPN.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good Game Score in basketball?
A Game Score of 10 is considered average. A score of 40 or higher is considered an outstanding, MVP-level performance for a single game. A score below 10 indicates a below-average performance.
Who created the Game Score statistic?
The Game Score statistic was created by John Hollinger, a prominent basketball analyst and former Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies. He designed it as a simpler alternative to the more complex Player Efficiency Rating (PER).
What is the highest Game Score ever recorded?
Michael Jordan holds the record for the highest Game Score in an NBA game, with a score of 64.6 in a 1990 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers where he scored 69 points.