Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Offensive rating = points ÷ possessions × 100. Per-100-possession metrics remove pace bias — a fast-paced team scores more points in absolute terms but may not be more efficient. NBA league average ORtg is around 115-117 in the modern era. Defensive rating (DRtg) is points allowed per 100 possessions; net rating = ORtg − DRtg. Championship contenders typically post net ratings of +5 or better. Individual offensive and defensive ratings measure a player’s on-court team performance split.
- Points ÷ possessions × 100
- Removes pace bias from scoring comparisons
- NBA average ~115-117 (modern era)
- Net rating = ORtg − DRtg
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Offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions) lets analysts compare scoring efficiency fairly between teams or players who play at very different paces — a team scoring 110 points per game might actually be less efficient per possession than a team scoring only 95 points per game if the first team simply plays at a much faster pace with more total possessions.
FAQ
Why is offensive rating measured per 100 possessions instead of per game?
Teams and players play at different paces (some teams run many more possessions per game than others), so standardizing to a fixed 100-possession baseline allows fair efficiency comparison regardless of pace.
What's considered a good offensive rating in basketball?
In the NBA, a team offensive rating above 115 is typically considered strong, with elite offenses often reaching 118-120+ in a given season.