.nba-calc-container {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 25px;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.nba-calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
color: #1d428a; /* NBA Blue */
}
.nba-calc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.nba-calc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.nba-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.nba-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
font-size: 0.9rem;
}
.nba-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1rem;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Fix padding issue */
}
.nba-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #c9082a; /* NBA Red */
outline: none;
}
.nba-section-title {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
font-size: 1.1rem;
font-weight: bold;
color: #c9082a;
border-bottom: 2px solid #e0e0e0;
padding-bottom: 5px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.nba-btn {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #1d428a;
color: white;
padding: 15px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
cursor: pointer;
font-weight: bold;
transition: background 0.3s;
width: 100%;
}
.nba-btn:hover {
background-color: #153269;
}
.nba-result {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
margin-top: 20px;
text-align: center;
display: none;
}
.nba-result h3 {
margin: 0;
color: #333;
font-size: 1.2rem;
}
.nba-result-value {
font-size: 2.5rem;
font-weight: 800;
color: #c9082a;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.nba-result-detail {
font-size: 0.9rem;
color: #666;
}
.article-content {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
font-family: sans-serif;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #1d428a;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.article-content ul {
background: #f1f1f1;
padding: 20px 40px;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.formula-box {
background-color: #eef2f7;
padding: 15px;
border-left: 4px solid #1d428a;
font-family: monospace;
overflow-x: auto;
margin: 20px 0;
}
function calculateUsageRate() {
// Get Player Values
var pFGA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('p_fga').value);
var pFTA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('p_fta').value);
var pTOV = parseFloat(document.getElementById('p_tov').value);
var pMP = parseFloat(document.getElementById('p_mp').value);
// Get Team Values
var tmFGA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tm_fga').value);
var tmFTA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tm_fta').value);
var tmTOV = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tm_tov').value);
var tmMP = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tm_mp').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(pFGA) || isNaN(pFTA) || isNaN(pTOV) || isNaN(pMP) ||
isNaN(tmFGA) || isNaN(tmFTA) || isNaN(tmTOV) || isNaN(tmMP)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (pMP <= 0 || tmMP 30) {
interpText = "High Usage: This player is the primary offensive focal point (Heliocentric).";
} else if (usgRate > 20) {
interpText = "Average/Good Usage: Typical for starters or secondary scoring options.";
} else {
interpText = "Low Usage: This player likely plays a defensive or spot-up role.";
}
interpretation.innerHTML = interpText;
}
How Is NBA Usage Rate Calculated?
Usage Rate (often abbreviated as USG%) is one of the most popular advanced statistics in modern basketball analytics. It measures the percentage of team plays used by a player while they are on the floor. In essence, it answers the question: "When this player is in the game, how often does the offensive possession end with the ball in their hands?"
A possession is considered "used" by a player if they do one of three things:
- Attempt a Field Goal (FGA)
- Attempt Free Throws (FTA)
- Commit a Turnover (TOV)
If a player passes the ball and a teammate scores, that does not count toward the passer's usage rate (though it counts toward Assist Percentage).
The Usage Rate Formula
The standard formula used by major analytics outlets like Basketball Reference is:
USG% = 100 * [ (FGA + 0.44 * FTA + TOV) * (TmMP / 5) ] / [ MP * (TmFGA + 0.44 * TmFTA + TmTOV) ]
Breakdown of Variables:
- FGA: Player Field Goal Attempts.
- FTA: Player Free Throw Attempts.
- TOV: Player Turnovers.
- MP: Player Minutes Played.
- TmMP: Team Minutes Played (Total).Usually 240 for a non-overtime NBA game.
- TmFGA / TmFTA / TmTOV: The team's total stats during the game.
- 0.44 Multiplier: This is a coefficient used to estimate possessions from free throws. Not every foul results in 2 shots, and technicals/and-ones skew the data, so 0.44 is the statistically accepted average value for a trip to the line.
Why the "TmMP / 5" Adjustment?
The formula looks complex because it has to account for the fact that a player isn't on the court for the entire game. We cannot simply divide player shots by team shots, because the team takes many shots while that player sits on the bench.
The calculation normalizes the data. It compares the player's activity (Plays Used) to the team's activity specifically during the minutes that player was on the court. The TmMP / 5 factor represents the average minutes available at one of the five positions.
Interpreting the Results
Understanding the output of the calculator is crucial for analysis:
- 20% Usage: This is the mathematical average. Since there are 5 players on the court, if everyone shared the ball equally, everyone would have a 20% usage rate.
- >30% Usage: Superstar territory. Players like Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Joel Embiid often hover around 32-35%. This indicates the offense runs through them.
- <15% Usage: Role players. These players (often defensive specialists or "3-and-D" wings) rarely shoot or turn the ball over. They space the floor but do not initiate the offense.
Efficiency vs. Usage
Usage rate measures volume, not quality. A high usage rate is not inherently "good." A player with a 35% usage rate but a low True Shooting Percentage is actually hurting the team because they are using many possessions inefficiently. The "Holy Grail" of NBA analytics is combining High Usage with High Efficiency.