Calculator
Definition – What is “Assist Ratio” or “AST Ratio”?
Assist ratio in basketball is a stat that shows how often a player or team helps another player score by passing the ball. It’s calculated by dividing the number of assists by the total number of possessions, then multiplying by 100. This number helps coaches and fans see how well a team shares the ball and works together to make good shots. A high assist ratio means the team is passing and creating opportunities, while a low ratio shows more individual play.
The idea of tracking assists has been around for a long time, but the assist ratio stat is a more modern way of measuring it. Early basketball stats mostly focused on points, but as the game evolved, analysts started looking for better ways to measure teamwork and ball movement. The assist stat became a key way to see how well a player could set up their teammates for success.
John Hollinger, a well-known basketball analyst, helped popularize the term “assist ratio” in the 2000s. He created it as part of his advanced basketball stats to better evaluate a player’s overall impact. Since then, assist ratio has been used by coaches, teams, and fans to measure how well players create scoring chances for others.
Formula – How to calculate Assist Ratio
Assist Ratio = (AST ÷ (FGA + (0.44 x FTA) + AST + TO)) x 100%
Where:
- “AST” are assists.
- “FGA” are field goal attempts.
- “FTA” are free throw attempts.
- “TO” are turnovers.
Example
A team has 586 assists, 1909 field goal attempts, 858 free throw attempts, and 387 turnovers.
Assist Ratio = (586 ÷ (1909 + (0.44 x 858) + 586 + 387)) x 100%
Assist Ratio = (586 ÷ (1909 + 377.52 + 586 + 387)) x 100%
Assist Ratio = (586 ÷ 3259.52) x 100%
Assist Ratio = 0.1798 x 100%
Assist Ratio = 17.98%
Sources and more resources
- NBA Stats Glossary – AST Ratio – NBA’s stats glossary includes the AST ratio.
- Learn more about assist ratio with NBA StatLab and Fansided.
- Basketball Reference – Glossary – A glossary of lots of basketball statistics.