Calculator
Example Data Table
| Player | Assists | Games | APG | Minutes | Per 36/60/90 | Team Pace | Target Pace | Pace-Adjusted APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playmaker A | 212 | 58 | 3.66 | 1680 | 4.54 | 99.5 | 100.0 | 3.68 |
| Creator B | 310 | 82 | 3.78 | 2460 | 4.54 | 96.0 | 100.0 | 3.94 |
| Midfielder C | 12 | 34 | 0.35 | 2700 | 0.40 | — | — | — |
Formula Used
- Assists Per Game (APG) = Total Assists ÷ Games Played
- Minutes Per Game = Total Minutes ÷ Games Played (if minutes provided)
- Time-based Rate = (Total Assists ÷ Total Minutes) × K, where K is 36/60/90 by sport
- Pace-Adjusted APG = APG × (Target Pace ÷ Team Pace) (if both pace values provided)
- Projected APG = Projected Assists ÷ Projected Games (if projection inputs provided)
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter total assists and games played for your chosen time window.
- Add total minutes to unlock time-based rates and assists per 100 minutes.
- If you track pace/tempo, enter team pace and a target pace baseline.
- Optionally add projected assists and projected games for planning.
- Press Submit to show results above the form.
- Use Download CSV or Download PDF to share outputs.
Performance Insights
Why APG matters
Assists per game (APG) converts raw playmaking into a schedule-neutral rate consistently. If a guard records 240 assists across 80 games, APG equals 3.00, making it comparable to a teammate who played only 55 games. Coaches often pair APG with turnover rate to evaluate decision quality, because high-volume passing can inflate assists without efficient possessions. A stable APG across different opponents also signals repeatable creation skill rather than one-off hot shooting.
Interpreting volume and context
APG is sensitive to role. Primary ball-handlers typically lead team creation, while wings may generate fewer but higher-leverage assists. Track your APG alongside usage, touches, or time on ball to avoid misleading comparisons. In many leagues, an increase of 0.5 APG over a season can represent 35–45 additional scoring opportunities, depending on game count. Reviewing assist location (paint, corner, transition) helps reveal whether production comes from set plays or free-flow reads.
Minutes-based rates
When minutes fluctuate, normalize by time. The calculator estimates assists per 36, 60, or 90 minutes using total assists divided by total minutes, then multiplied by a sport-appropriate constant. For example, 180 assists in 2,400 minutes equals 0.075 assists per minute; multiplied by 36 yields 2.70 assists per 36 minutes. Use this to compare starters and bench units, and to estimate what a player might produce after a workload change.
Pace adjustment
Faster teams create more possessions, raising assist chances. Pace-adjusted APG scales your rate to a baseline tempo: adjusted APG = APG × (target pace ÷ team pace). If APG is 4.0 at a 105 pace and you want a 100 baseline, the adjusted value becomes 3.81, helping compare players across systems. This adjustment is most useful when pace differences exceed five possessions per game or when a player changes teams midseason.
Using projections
Planning tools turn recent performance into forecasts. If you project 85 assists over 25 upcoming games, projected APG becomes 3.40. Pair this with matchup strength, expected minutes, and lineup changes to refine targets. Regularly updating projections weekly keeps expectations realistic and highlights trend shifts early. Setting a range, such as ±10%, is practical because assists depend on teammate finishing and coaching rotations.
FAQs
What counts as an assist?
An assist is credited when a pass directly leads to a made score under your league’s rules. Some leagues allow a dribble or move; others require an immediate finish. Use the same stat source consistently for comparisons.
How do I handle games with zero minutes?
Exclude games where the player did not appear. If your stat feed lists the game but minutes are zero, treat it as did-not-play, not a played game, to avoid lowering APG unfairly.
Why is my per-36 rate higher than APG?
Per-36 scales production to a fixed playing time. If you play fewer minutes per game, the per-36 number can look higher than APG because APG is not time-normalized.
When should I use pace adjustment?
Use pace adjustment when comparing players from teams with different tempos or when a player changes systems. It helps isolate playmaking rate from possession volume, especially in fast or slow styles.
Can I compare across sports?
You can compare within a sport more reliably. Across sports, assist definitions and game lengths differ. Use the time-based rates (per 60/90) for closer comparisons, but still interpret cautiously.
Does APG predict future assists?
APG is a helpful baseline, but assists depend on teammates’ finishing, role, and coaching strategy. Combine APG with minutes trends and lineup context, then update projections regularly to reflect changes.