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Game Score Calculator

Calculate Game Score (GmSc) — John Hollinger's quick single-game efficiency score built entirely from box score totals.

Informational only — not a substitute for official league statistics or professional judgment.

How it's calculated

GmSc = PTS + 0.4×FG - 0.7×FGA - 0.4×(FTA-FT) + 0.7×ORB + 0.3×DRB + STL + 0.7×AST + 0.7×BLK - 0.4×PF - TOV Example: 24 pts, 9-18 FG, 4-5 FT, 1 ORB, 5 DRB, 2 STL, 6 AST, 1 BLK, 3 PF, 2 TOV GmSc = 24 + 0.4(9) - 0.7(18) - 0.4(5-4) + 0.7(1) + 0.3(5) + 2 + 0.7(6) + 0.7(1) - 0.4(3) - 2 ≈ 24 + 3.6 - 12.6 - 0.4 + 0.7 + 1.5 + 2 + 4.2 + 0.7 - 1.2 - 2 = 20.5

Assumptions

  • Uses total rebounds split into offensive and defensive components, matching the standard box score breakdown Game Score was designed around.
  • Unlike PER, this formula applies fixed weights with no league-wide pace or rate adjustment — a deliberate simplification, not a missing input.

Source: Basketball Reference — Glossary (Game Score)

Last reviewed: July 2026

Frequently asked questions

How is Game Score different from PER?

Both were created by John Hollinger to measure single-game production, but PER also pace-adjusts and normalizes to a league-wide average of 15 using seasonal constants (league pace, free-throw rate, etc.) that change every year. Game Score uses only that game's box score totals with fixed weights, so it's fully reproducible from a single box score with no external season data required.

What's a good Game Score?

Hollinger's own rough guide: around 10 is an average game, 20+ is an excellent game, 30+ is an outstanding, near-historic performance, and 40+ is among the best individual games ever played.

Can Game Score be negative?

Yes — a player who misses a lot of shots, fouls often, and turns the ball over while contributing little else can post a negative Game Score. It's not bounded at zero the way simpler counting stats are.

Is Game Score used for anything beyond single games?

It's designed as a quick, at-a-glance box score summary for one game, most commonly seen in game recaps and box score tools. For evaluating performance across a season, most analysts use PER, Win Shares, or Box Plus/Minus instead, which factor in pace and league context that Game Score intentionally leaves out.

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