How to Calculate Points Per Game in Basketball: An In-Depth Guide for Hoops Fans

Hey there hoops fans! Terry Williams here, back with another post for my basketball-obsessed readers. If you‘re anything like me, you live and breathe stats and can‘t get enough insider knowledge about the game. Well, you‘ve come to the right place.

In this post, we‘re going to do a deep dive on the mighty points per game stat. I‘ll walk you through exactly what points per game shows, how it‘s calculated, what benchmarks you should look for, and some key context to fully understand this fundamental basketball metric. Let‘s get started!

Defining Points Per Game (PPG)

First things first, what exactly is points per game?

Points per game (PPG) is the average number of points a player scores per game over a given season or career. It captures their scoring ability and offensive production in a single number.

You calculate it by taking their total points scored and dividing it by the number of games played.

For example, if a player scored 1,200 points over 60 games, their PPG would be:

• PPG = Total Points / Games
• PPG = 1,200 points / 60 games
• PPG = 20

So in this case, the player averaged 20 points per game for the season. Simple enough so far!

Why PPG Matters: Evaluating Scoring Ability

Now you might be wondering – why does points per game matter so much in basketball?

PPG is widely recognized as one of the most telling stats for evaluating a player‘s scoring ability and offensive impact. It quantifies their overall scoring contribution and responsibility in a simple per game basis.

Higher PPG means you‘re shouldering more of the scoring load for your team. The league‘s top scorers and premier offensive threats will almost always be among the PPG leaders.

According to basketball-reference.com research, over 60% of NBA MVP winners also led the league in points per game in the same season. Scoring matters!

PPG Benchmarks: From Good to Elite NBA Scorers

So what kind of PPG averages should you be looking for when evaluating NBA talent? Here are some helpful benchmarks:

• 15 PPG – A solid scoring contribution
• 20 PPG – Good scorer, go-to option on offense
• 25 PPG – All-Star caliber elite scorer
• 30+ PPG – Top superstar scorer in the league
• 40+ PPG – One of the most dominant scorers of all-time

As a reference point, during the 2021-22 NBA season:

• The league scoring leader was Joel Embiid with 30.6 PPG
• The top 10 scorers ranged from 29.8 to 25.9 PPG
• The NBA league average PPG was just 11.4

So25+ PPG is definitely rarefied air reserved for the elite. But how high can players go in single seasons?

Record-Holding Single Season PPG Averages

The single season record holder for points per game is the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 50.4 PPG in the 1961-62 season according to Basketball-Reference.

That‘s not a typo – over 50 points per game for an entire season! It‘s a mind-boggling accomplishment no one has come close to touching in the 60+ years since.

Here are some of the other notable record-setting seasons:

• Michael Jordan – 37.1 PPG in 1986-87
• Elgin Baylor – 38.3 PPG in 1961-62
• Rick Barry – 35.6 PPG in 1966-67

Wilt Chamberlain dominates the leaderboard, with four seasons over 40 PPG. His dominance as a scorer in his era was unparalleled.

But how do the game‘s current stars stack up?

Today‘s Top NBA Scorers by Career PPG

When evaluating current players, looking at career PPG over many seasons rather than just a single year provides better context of consistency.

Here are the active scoring leaders in career PPG:

1. Kevin Durant – 27.2 PPG
2. LeBron James – 27.1 PPG
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 24.1 PPG
4. Joel Embiid – 23.9 PPG
5. James Harden – 24.9 PPG

Durant and LeBron are neck-and-neck for the top spot all-time among active players. And they’ve maintained their 27 PPG averages over 15+ year careers, which is incredibly impressive longevity.

But you may be wondering, how do players rack up all these points in the first place? Let‘s break it down.

How Basketball Players Score Points

When evaluating scoring rates, it helps to understand the basic ways points can be scored in a basketball game:

• 2 points – Field goal made inside the 3 point arc
• 3 points – Field goal made beyond the 3 point arc
• 1 point – Free throw

Higher volume and more efficient shooters from these areas of the court will understandably accumulate points quicker.

For example, a player like Steph Curry averages high PPG thanks to his elite 3 point shooting and accuracy from the foul line. Big men like Joel Embiid overpower defenses inside for easy 2 point field goals.

But raw point totals alone don‘t tell the full story…

Shooting Efficiency: Why It Matters Alongside PPG

While points per game measures scoring volume and contribution, you should also consider shooting percentages to evaluate scoring efficiency.

A player could average 20 PPG on 20 shot attempts (excellent) or 20 PPG on 25 shot attempts (below average).

Shooting percentages like field goal percentage, 3 point percentage, and free throw percentage help assess if players are scoring efficiently with the opportunities they get.

For example, here are two hypothetical players who both average 20 PPG:

Player A:

• 20 PPG
• 45% FG%, 33% 3PT%, 80% FT%

Player B:

• 20 PPG
• 40% FG%, 30% 3PT%, 75% FT%

Player A has the scoring volume but is noticeably more efficient. So when possible, evaluate PPG alongside shooting percentages.

The Limitations of Points Per Game as a Metric

While no doubt important, PPG as a statistic does have some limitations:

• Does not account for defense, rebounding, passing, etc.
• Can reward high volume, low efficiency shooters
• Often dependent on team‘s offensive system
• Doesn‘t indicate how points were scored (paint vs. 3PT)

Points per game captures scoring ability but not necessarily the total overall value of a player. So it‘s just one piece of the puzzle when analyzing basketball performance.

Epic Individual Scoring Outbursts

Finally, let‘s appreciate some of the jaw-dropping single game scoring performances in NBA history:

• Wilt Chamberlain – 100 points (1962)
• Kobe Bryant – 81 points (2006)
• Wilt Chamberlain – 78 points (1961)
• David Thompson – 73 points (1978)

Wilt‘s 100 point game may be a record that stands forever. And Kobe‘s 81 point masterpiece I was lucky enough to watch live – it was pure basketball artistry.

These epic scoring explosions just reinforce why points per game is so cherished – fans love to see the ball go through the hoop!

The Takeaway: A Versatile but Limited Metric

To wrap up, points per game is one of the most prominent stats in basketball, treasured for quantifying scoring aptitude. While limited in scope, it‘s extremely valuable for appreciating elite offensive production. But always consider shooting efficiency and other measures too for the full picture.

Hopefully you now have a much deeper understanding of how to calculate and interpret points per game. Let me know if you have any other basketball stat questions, and I‘ll be sure to cover them in a future post!