Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
A possession ends when a team scores, turns the ball over, or misses a shot the other team rebounds. It's estimated as field goal attempts minus offensive rebounds plus turnovers plus 0.44 × free throw attempts. Pace is possessions per 48 minutes. Rating offenses per 100 possessions (offensive rating) removes the effect of speed, so a fast team isn't credited as 'better' just for scoring more total points.
- FGA − OREB + TOV + 0.44 × FTA
- Pace = possessions per 48 minutes
- Offensive rating = points per 100 possessions
- Removes pace when comparing offenses
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A basketball possession ends only when a team scores, turns the ball over, or the defense secures a defensive rebound — not simply when the ball changes hands via an offensive rebound, which keeps the same possession alive — making 'per possession' a more precise efficiency measure than 'per game,' since teams play vastly different numbers of possessions depending on their pace of play.
FAQ
How is a basketball possession counted?
A possession ends when a team scores, commits a turnover, or the opponent secures a defensive rebound; an offensive rebound keeps the same possession alive rather than starting a new one.
Why do analysts prefer stats measured per possession rather than per game?
Teams play at different paces (some generate many more total possessions per game than others), so per-possession stats allow fairer efficiency comparisons regardless of pace.