Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
PER (Player Efficiency Rating) was developed by John Hollinger to measure a player’s per-minute production adjusted for pace. The official formula incorporates points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and shooting efficiency, minus turnovers and missed shots, scaled so the league average is always 15.0. Above 20 is All-Star level; above 25 is MVP-calibre. PER has limitations — it doesn’t capture defence well and favours high-usage players — but remains the most widely cited single-number player rating.
- League average always = 15
- 20+ = All-Star; 25+ = MVP-calibre
- Doesn’t capture defence well
- Developed by John Hollinger
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PER (Player Efficiency Rating) condenses a basketball player's per-minute statistical production into a single number, adjusted so the league average always sits at exactly 15.00 — while it's a useful quick-reference stat, it's also been criticized for overvaluing high-volume scoring and undervaluing defense, which is why many analysts now pair it with other advanced metrics rather than relying on it alone.
FAQ
What's considered a good PER in basketball?
Above 15 is above league average; above 20 is considered All-Star caliber, and the very best players in a season often post PER values above 25-30.
Why is PER criticized by some analysts?
It's heavily weighted toward offensive scoring volume and doesn't fully capture defensive contribution, meaning high-volume scorers can post inflated PER values relative to their true overall impact on winning.