Game Score Calculator
Measure Single-Game Productivity (GmSc)
What is Game Score (GmSc)?
Game Score is an all-in-one metric developed by John Hollinger (the creator of PER) to provide a simple, intuitive measure of a basketball player\'s productivity in a single game. It weights every statistical category—from points and assists to turnovers and fouls—to arrive at a number that represents the player\'s total impact.
The Formula Breakdown
While the formula looks complex, it is designed to mirror the scoring scale of points per game:
PTS + 0.4×FG - 0.7×FGA - 0.4×(FTA-FTM) + 0.7×ORB + 0.3×DRB + STL + 0.7×AST + 0.7×BLK - 0.4×PF - TOV
Performance Tiers
How do you grade a performance using Game Score? Because the scale is designed to feel like "points," we use these general benchmarks:
- 40+ (Legendary): An MVP-caliber, historic performance (e.g., MJ\'s 69-point game).
- 30 - 40 (Elite): A dominant All-Star performance that likely carried the team.
- 20 - 30 (All-Star): An excellent game by a primary scoring or impact player.
- 10 - 20 (Starter): A solid, productive night for a rotation player.
- 0 - 10 (Bench/Replacement): A mediocre night with limited statistical impact.
- Below 0 (Poor): The player had a negative impact on the floor.
Why Use Game Score?
Game Score is the perfect middle ground between raw stats and advanced impact metrics like PER or Win Shares. It is easier to calculate than PER but much more accurate than just looking at points or double-doubles. It rewards efficiency (high FG%) and punishes mistakes (turnovers and fouls), giving a true look at who actually \"won\" the game for their team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Game Score (GmSc) in basketball?
Game Score is a metric created by John Hollinger to give a rough measure of a player's productivity for a single game. It is designed to be on a similar scale to points scored (e.g., 40 is legendary, 10 is average).
How is Game Score calculated?
The formula is: PTS + 0.4×FG - 0.7×FGA - 0.4×(FTA-FTM) + 0.7×ORB + 0.3×DRB + STL + 0.7×AST + 0.7×BLK - 0.4×PF - TOV.
What is the highest Game Score ever recorded?
Michael Jordan holds the record with a 64.6 Game Score, achieved when he scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1990.
What is considered a good Game Score?
A Game Score of 10 is considered average. 20 is an All-Star level performance, while 30+ is an MVP-caliber night. Anything below 0 indicates a player had a negative impact on the game.