How to Count Points Per Game in Sports

At its core, points per game (PPG) simply measures how many points a player scores on average each game. But there‘s a lot more depth to this seemingly simple statistic. Here‘s a detailed look at what points per game means, how it‘s calculated, and how to interpret PPG in major sports like basketball, football, and more.

What is PPG and How is it Calculated?

Points per game (PPG) is calculated by taking a player‘s total points scored and dividing it by the number of games played.

PPG = Total Points Scored / Games Played

For example, if an NBA player scored 1200 total points over the course of 60 games, their PPG would be:

PPG = 1200 points / 60 games = 20 points per game

PPG allows for easy comparison of players who have played different numbers of games by normalizing to a per game average.

Scoring Systems and Calculating PPG

To understand PPG, you first need to understand how points are scored in each sport:

Basketball

• Field Goals inside arc: 2 points
• Field Goals beyond arc: 3 points
• Free Throws: 1 point

LeBron James has scored 37,062 total points over 1,310 career NBA games. His career PPG is:

PPG = 37,062 points / 1,310 games = 28.3 points per game

(Image credit: Statmuse)

Football

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Field Goal: 3 points
• Safety: 2 points
• Extra Point: 1 point
• 2-Point Conversion: 2 points

Tom Brady has scored 3,838 total points over 318 career NFL games. His career PPG is:

PPG = 3,838 points / 318 games = 12.1 points per game

(Image credit: Pro Football Reference)

Hockey

• Goal: 1 point
• Assist: 1 point

Alexander Ovechkin has scored 1,320 career points over 1,274 NHL games. His career PPG is:

PPG = 1,320 points / 1,274 games = 1.04 points per game

Soccer

• Goal: 1 point
• Assist: 1 point

Lionel Messi has scored 789 career points over 998 games. His career PPG is:

PPG = 789 points / 998 games = 0.79 points per game

As you can see, PPG varies significantly based on the sport‘s scoring system. Top scorers will have higher PPG in basketball compared to soccer or football.

Good vs Elite PPG in the NBA

What‘s considered a "good" vs "great" PPG average depends on factors like position, era, and team situation. Here are some general benchmarks in today‘s NBA:

• 10-14 PPG: Role Player/Substitute
• 15-19 PPG: Quality Starter
• 20-24 PPG: All-Star Caliber
• 25-29 PPG: MVP Candidate
• 30+ PPG: Elite Scorer

However, you have to consider pace and minutes played. Centers who play only 20 minutes but average 15 PPG are still valuable scorers.

Raw PPG also does not account for shooting efficiency. A 30 PPG scorer on poor percentage is less valuable than an efficient 20 PPG scorer.

Over NBA history, league scoring has increased along with pace of play:

Season	League Leader PPG	Team Pace
1961-62	Wilt Chamberlain, 50.4 PPG	131.1
1986-87	Michael Jordan, 37.1 PPG	105.2
2021-22	Joel Embiid, 30.6 PPG	98.8

Rule changes like the 3-point line have also increased scoring over time. So comparing PPG across eras can be difficult.

All Time Single Season NBA Scoring Leaders

Player	PPG	Season
Wilt Chamberlain	50.4	1961-62
Wilt Chamberlain	44.8	1962-63
Michael Jordan	37.1	1986-87
Wilt Chamberlain	38.4	1960-61
James Harden	36.1	2018-19

(Table data source: Stathead)

Highest Scoring NBA Games Ever

Matchup	Total Points	Final Score	Date
Pistons vs Nuggets	370	Pistons 186, Nuggets 184 (3OT)	December 13, 1983
Bucks vs Hawks	337	Bucks 161, Hawks 176 (4OT)	March 1, 1970
Nuggets vs Pistons	313	Pistons 186, Nuggets 127	November 10, 1990

(Table data source: Land of Basketball)

The Evolution of PPG Over Time

As evidenced by Wilt Chamberlain‘s superhuman numbers, PPG used to be much higher in the early days of the NBA. But it‘s not necessarily because earlier players were inherently better scorers. The league has gone through massive rule changes since then that affect scoring:

• 24 Second Shot Clock Added (1954) – This sped up the pace of the game by limiting offensive possessions. Shot clock era PPG jumped from 79.5 to 93.1 points per game overnight. Teams couldn‘t just hold the ball and stall anymore.

• Three Point Line Added (1979) – This opened up the floor and rewarded longer shots with an extra point, increasing overall scoring. In the first year, PPG rose by over 4 points from 106.3 in 1978-79 to 110.8 in 1979-80.

• Hand Checking Rules (2004) – These new rules limited defensive contact on the perimeter and made it easier for guards to drive to the basket. PPG has increased from 93.4 in 2003-04 to 111.2 this past season.

So high historical PPG totals have to be taken in context. Wilt was certainly dominant, but he played in an era with a much faster pace and more possessions per game. Advanced stats like Points Per 75 Possessions help account for these factors and compare players across eras.

Variations on PPG to Consider

While PPG is simple and useful, it doesn‘t tell the whole scoring story. Some other PPG-related stats to consider:

• True Shooting Percentage – Accounts for three pointers and free throws for overall scoring efficiency
• Points Per 36 Minutes – Estimates PPG if player played full starter minutes
• Usage Percentage – Percent of team plays used by player on court

For example, Manu Ginobili only averaged 13.3 PPG over his career. But his Per 36 Minutes was 19.5 PPG when adjusted for his role as the Spurs sixth man playing limited minutes off the bench.

So while PPG is a handy singular scoring metric, it‘s important to consider other factors like pace, minutes played, and scoring efficiency to get the complete picture of a player‘s offensive value.

The Limitations of Points Per Game

Points per game, while easy to understand, has some clear limitations:

• Pace Dependent – Favors high pace, high possession style of play over defensive grind it out ball
• Doesn‘t Account for Efficiency – Efficient lower volume scorers undervalued
• Role Dependent – Penalizes secondary options who sacrifice points for balance
• Limited Defensive Value – One way stat only measuring offensive contribution

Many modern analytics advocates argue that True Shooting Percentage and Offensive/Defensive Ratings capture a player‘s complete value better than raw per game counting stats like PPG.

But points will always remain the central scoring unit in basketball. While PPG alone doesn‘t define a player, it offers a quick snapshot of their scoring contribution. When combined with other rate stats, it remains one of the most useful metrics for evaluating basketball players.

Points Per Game in Other Major Sports

While basketball relies heavily on PPG for player evaluation, it remains relevant in most scoring-based sports:

Football

• Quarterbacks – Passing and rushing touchdowns responsible for bulk of PPG
• Running Backs – Touchdowns plus two-point conversions important
• Wide Receivers – Touchdowns and extra point receptions count
• Kickers – Field goals and extra points make up nearly all of PPG

A rating of 10+ PPG over a season is excellent for QBs and elite for kickers.

Baseball

• Runs Batted In divided by games played gives a sense of run production
• But more emphasis placed on On Base Percentage and Slugging in baseball

Hockey

• Goals plus assists divided by games played
• Elite scorers rack up 1.00+ PPG over a season
• Playmakers can excel with high assists and lower goals

Soccer

• Goals plus assists per 90 minutes instead of games
• Strikers might average 0.5 to 0.75 PPG based on goals
• Playmakers will post higher PPG with more assists

Formula 1 Racing

• Points are given out per race based on order of finish
• Consistency matters, with points for top 10 finishes each race
• 25+ PPG is a championship caliber season

The exact interpretation varies, but PPG gives a snapshot of scoring contribution in any sport that involves point scoring.

The Bottom Line on Points Per Game

While PPG is just one piece of the puzzle in player evaluation, it serves as a handy singular metric for scoring. Leagues, media, and fans will continue using PPG as quick shorthand for offensive productivity.

Just remember to consider the context of pace, playing time, scoring efficiency, and overall offensive skill set. And complement PPG with other advanced rate stats for a complete picture of a player‘s total value and contribution to winning basketball.