The Efficiency Rating (PER) in the EuroLeague is one of the most commonly used statistics to summarize a player's overall contribution on the court in a single number. How are sustained stats like points, rebounds, assists, and steals weighted against negative factors such as turnovers and fouls in this metric? What are the key components of the formula, and how should this rating be interpreted differently across positions? In your opinion, what are the limitations of this metric?
How is the 'Efficiency Rating' (PER) calculated in EuroLeague games and what does it indicate?
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When I first decided to follow PER in the EuroLeague, I was also setting up my roster in a Fantasy league; so for me, reducing each player’s “contribution” to a single number was incredibly valuable. The formula is actually pretty straightforward: Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks – (missed field-goal attempts) – (missed free throws) – Turnovers – Personal fouls, all averaged per game to get PER. Thing is, this formula doesn’t directly reflect positional differences; for big men, rebounds and blocks carry more weight, while for guards, assists and steals stand out, so interpreting the same PER value the same way for two different players just doesn’t work.
From what I’ve seen, a high-PER big (say Nikola Mirotić) usually contributes more through rebounds and blocks than scoring, whereas a guard with the same PER (like Vasilije Micić) tends to shine through assists and steals. That’s why I see PER less as a “contribution” metric and more as a “statistical crowd.” I think its biggest limitation is that it doesn’t account for pace or defensive roles; players on fast-paced teams naturally post higher PERs, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’re better players. That’s why I prefer pairing PER with another 40-60% of stats (like defensive rating or true shooting percentage) for a more complete evaluation.