Offensive Rating measures how many points a team or player produces for every 100 possessions.
While total points can be misleading (because some teams play at a much faster pace than others), Offensive Rating levels the playing field. It tells you exactly how much “bang for your buck” you get every time you have the ball.
How It Works
Think of a possession as one “trip” down the court where your team tries to score. A possession ends when you score, miss and lose the rebound, or turn the ball over.
- The Team Version: This is the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions. It reveals the true quality of an offense.
- The Player Version: This estimates how many points the team scores per 100 possessions while that specific player is on the court.
Why We Use 100 Possessions
Basketball games vary in speed.
- Team A plays very fast and gets 110 possessions. They score 110 points.
- Team B plays very slow and gets 90 possessions. They score 105 points.
Even though Team A scored more total points, Team B actually has a better Offensive Rating. They were more efficient with the chances they had. By scaling everything to 100 possessions, we can compare a fast-paced “run and gun” team to a slow, defensive team fairly.
What the Numbers Mean
In the modern NBA, offensive ratings have climbed significantly due to better shooting and spacing.
- 115+: Elite (Top-tier offense)
- 110–114: Good to Average
- Below 105: Poor (Struggling offense)
How a Player Improves Their Rating
A player boosts their Offensive Rating by doing three things:
- Making shots (especially three-pointers and layups).
- Avoiding turnovers (which end possessions without a shot).
- Grabbing offensive rebounds (which extend the possession and give the team another chance to score).
The Bottom Line
Offensive Rating ignores the “noise” of a fast or slow game. It focuses purely on productivity. It answers the most important question for an offense: “When we have the ball, how likely are we to walk away with points?”