Basketball Game Score Calculator (Hollinger GmSc from a box score)

Understanding the basketball Game Score calculator — concept and principle

Game Score (GmSc) is John Hollinger's one-number summary of a player's box score in a single game. It rewards points, efficient shooting, rebounds, steals, assists and blocks and subtracts missed shots, fouls and turnovers, on a scale that looks like points scored. This calculator computes Game Score and shows how each part contributes.

Scoring, rebounds and playmaking minus fouls and turnovers give 23.5.

How it is 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

The calculator groups the terms into four parts:

Scoring: PTS + 0.4 FG − 0.7 FGA − 0.4 (FTA − FT)
Rebounding: 0.7 ORB + 0.3 DRB
Steals, assists and blocks: STL + 0.7 AST + 0.7 BLK
Fouls and turnovers: −0.4 PF − TOV

The principle

Raw points can hide inefficiency: a player who scores 25 on 30 shots has used many possessions. Game Score adjusts for this by charging each field goal attempt 0.7 and giving back 0.4 for each make, so a missed shot costs 0.7 and a made two-pointer still nets well above zero once its points are added. Missed free throws cost 0.4. Offensive rebounds earn more than defensive ones because they are less common and extend a possession. Turnovers subtract a full point because they end a possession with nothing. The weights were chosen by Hollinger to make the result read roughly like points.

Worked example

Default inputs: 28 PTS, 10/19 FG, 6/7 FT, 2 ORB, 6 DRB, 2 STL, 5 AST, 1 BLK, 3 PF, 3 TOV.

Scoring = 28 + 4.0 − 13.3 − 0.4 = 18.3.
Rebounding = 1.4 + 1.8 = 3.2.
Steals, assists and blocks = 2 + 3.5 + 0.7 = 6.2.
Fouls and turnovers = −1.2 − 3 = −4.2.
Game Score = 18.3 + 3.2 + 6.2 − 4.2 = 23.5, which is 13.5 above an average game of 10.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Points (PTS)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Points (PTS)	Game Score
7	2.5
14	9.5
21	16.5
28	23.5
35	30.5
42	37.5
56	51.5

How to read the result

According to Basketball-Reference, about 10 is an average game and 40 is outstanding. Scores in the 20s indicate a very good night; negative scores are possible in poor games. Game Score is useful for ranking single-game performances or tracking a player's consistency, but it does not adjust for pace or minutes played.

Common mistakes

Entering three-pointers made as field goals made twice; FG already includes threes.
Comparing Game Scores across eras with very different pace.
Treating it as a complete measure; most defence is invisible in a box score.

Keep in mind: Game Score is a rough box-score summary, not a full evaluation of a player's value.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Game Score?

Around 10 is average; 20+ is very good and 40 is outstanding.

Can Game Score be negative?

Yes, when missed shots, fouls and turnovers outweigh the positive contributions.

Who created Game Score?

Basketball analyst John Hollinger.

Does Game Score adjust for minutes?

No. Players with more minutes have more chances to accumulate a high score.

Sources: Basketball-Reference.com (Sports Reference), Glossary, "GmSc — Game Score"

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Basketball-Reference.com (Sports Reference), Glossary, “GmSc — Game Score” (formula by John Hollinger; 40 outstanding, 10 average).

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