Short Answer
Complete Explanation
In the context of basketball, the word “per” is not a specific acronym or a single statistic, but rather a linguistic marker used to denote normalization. Because basketball players play varying amounts of minutes and games, raw totals (such as total points or rebounds) can be misleading. Using “per” metrics allows analysts to estimate what a player’s production would be if they played a standardized amount of time or faced a standardized number of possessions.
The most common applications of this term include:
- Per 36 Minutes: A calculation that scales a player’s stats to a standard 36-minute game. This is used to compare a bench player who plays 12 minutes to a starter who plays 34 minutes.
- Per 100 Possessions: A more advanced metric that removes the variable of “pace.” Since some teams play faster than others, calculating stats per 100 possessions shows efficiency regardless of how many shots were taken.
- Per Game: The most basic average, dividing total stats by the number of games played.
History / Background
The transition from raw totals to “per” statistics evolved alongside the growth of sports analytics. In the early era of the NBA, the primary focus was on cumulative totals and simple game averages. However, as the game became more specialized and the value of efficiency increased, the “Per 36” metric became a staple for scouts and analysts to identify undervalued players on the bench. The shift toward “Per 100 Possessions” occurred more recently with the rise of the “Analytics Era,” as teams began to realize that pace—the number of possessions per game—significantly skews traditional box score statistics.
Importance and Impact
The use of normalized statistics has fundamentally changed how players are evaluated and contracted. By looking at “per” metrics, front offices can identify a “per-minute producer”—a player who is highly efficient in limited time—and justify giving them more playing time or a larger contract. It removes the bias toward players who simply play more minutes, shifting the focus from volume to efficiency.
Why It Matters
For fans, coaches, and analysts, “per” statistics provide a more accurate reflection of a player’s actual impact on the court. It allows for a “level playing field” comparison between a superstar and a role player. For example, if a reserve player averages 4 points in 5 minutes, their “per 36” scoring average would be 28.8 points, signaling to a coach that the player may be capable of scoring more if given a starting role.
Common Misconceptions
Per 36 stats are a guarantee of future performance.
Per 36 is a mathematical projection; it does not account for fatigue or the fact that a player’s efficiency often drops as their minutes increase.
“Per” refers to a specific player efficiency rating (PER).
While PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is a famous statistic, the word “per” used in phrases like “per 36” is a preposition for normalization, not the PER rating itself.
FAQ
Is 'per 36' the same as PER?
No. 'Per 36' is a way of scaling basic stats to 36 minutes. PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is a complex formula that weights different stats to create a single efficiency score.
Why use per 100 possessions instead of per 36 minutes?
Per 100 possessions accounts for the speed of the game. A team that plays very fast will have more opportunities to score, making per-minute stats inflated compared to a slow-paced team.
Can per 36 stats be misleading?
Yes, because they assume a player can maintain the same level of efficiency for 36 minutes as they do for 5 minutes, which ignores fatigue and defensive adjustments.
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