True Shooting % is a metric that factors all methods of shooting into one overall percentage to evaluate player efficiency. Unlike ordinary field goal percentage, it accounts for the extra value of a made three-pointer and the free throws a player draws, so it reflects how efficiently a player actually scores the basketball, not just how often their shot goes in.
Top 5 in the NBA this season, min. 20 games played.
A good True Shooting percentage is anything above league average, which sits around 58.1%. The question is a bit nuanced though, since different positions and roles take different shot types, leading to a wide range of "normal" TS% values depending on what a player is asked to do.
True Shooting % includes free throw attempts to capture the scoring value a player generates from the line, not just from the field. A player who draws a lot of fouls and shoots efficiently at the stripe is scoring efficiently overall, even if that doesn't show up in a stat like field goal percentage.
The main difference is that True Shooting % factors in free throws, while Effective Field Goal % only accounts for field goals (weighting made threes higher than made twos). TS% gives a more complete picture of scoring efficiency since it captures points scored from the line too.
Yes. Because threes are worth more than twos, a hot enough shooting stretch from three can push True Shooting % above 100%. For example, a player who goes 3-for-3 on three-pointers scores 9 points on 3 shot attempts: TS% = 9 / (2 × 3) = 1.50, or 150%.
Centers generally take easier shots at the rim, which go in at a much higher rate than jump shots taken further from the basket. That higher make rate on high-value shots pushes their True Shooting % up compared to guards, who take on more difficult, lower-percentage looks.