On/Off Rating
The difference between a team's Net Rating when a specific player is on the floor versus when they are off — measuring a player's actual impact on team performance.
Box score stats tell you what a player does. On/Off Rating tells you what happens to the team because of them. A player who averages 8 points and 4 assists might seem modest — but if the team is +12 per 100 possessions when he plays and –5 when he sits, he's the most impactful player on the roster. On/Off cuts through role confusion, usage imbalances, and box score noise to ask the most fundamental question in basketball: is this team better or worse with this player on the floor?
Benchmarks
- Average starter: around 0
- Good: above +3
- Elite: above +6
- Exceptional: above +10
On/Off figures are heavily influenced by sample size, lineup combinations, and opponent strength. The signal becomes clearer above 1,000 minutes played or across multiple seasons.
On/Off Rating often reveals hidden value. In EuroLeague, backup point guards who set offensive tempo, versatile defenders who guard multiple positions, and high-IQ big men who anchor rotations often show dramatically positive On/Off numbers despite modest box scores. Conversely, high-usage scorers who dominate the ball sometimes show flatter On/Off figures — their scoring comes at the cost of offensive fluency for teammates. The stat rewards players who make everything around them better.
Tensions
A player with 400 minutes played has faced perhaps 600–700 possessions while on the floor. That's enough for a rough signal, but opponent variation, lineup partners, and game situations can all distort the number. A player who happens to share the floor with the team's best lineup — or who happens to sit when the team faces their toughest opponents — will look better or worse than they truly are. On/Off becomes more reliable above 1,000 minutes.
A player on a dominant team will show a positive On/Off even if they personally contribute little — their teammates carry them. A player on a weak team might show a neutral or negative On/Off despite playing well, because their teammates can't hold the advantage when the player is resting. Always contextualise On/Off with the quality of the player's teammates and the lineups they play in.
Formula
ON/OFF = Team Net Rating with player on floor − Team Net Rating with player off floor
