What is the difference?
A per-game rate divides a counting total by games played. A per-minute rate divides that total by minutes played. A per-36 rate multiplies the per-minute rate by 36. Use the same reporting period and the same underlying appearances for each calculation.
- Per game: total ÷ games played.
- Per minute: total ÷ minutes played.
- Per 36 minutes: (total ÷ minutes played) × 36.
Use these formulas for counting statistics such as points, not for rescaling an already calculated shooting percentage. A zero denominator has no defined rate: report it as unavailable rather than dividing by zero.
Why can the order change?
These are invented four-appearance records for two fictional basketball players. Both play in four games in the same period.
| Measure | Player A | Player B |
|---|---|---|
| Games played | 4 | 4 |
| Points | 48 | 72 |
| Minutes | 48 | 120 |
| Points per game | 12 | 18 |
| Points per minute | 1 | 0.6 |
| Points per 36 minutes | 36 | 21.6 |
Player B scores more points overall and per game. Player A has more points per minute. Both descriptions are arithmetically correct; they compare different quantities.
For A, 48 ÷ 48 × 36 = 36. For B, 72 ÷ 120 × 36 = 21.6. That does not say either player will score that many points in a future 36-minute appearance.
Compare two records
Use one counting statistic and the same reporting window. These calculations summarize the entered records; they do not predict production in a future game.
Use whole counting totals (0–1,000,000) and appearances (1–1,000,000). Minutes: 0.0001–1,000,000, up to four decimal places. Use decimal minutes, not minutes:seconds. Omit commas, percent signs and units. Count appearances, not team games.
The invented records above give A: 12 per game, 1 per minute and 36 per 36 minutes; B: 18, 0.6 and 21.6. JavaScript enables the calculator; the worked example remains available without it.
What does per-36 leave out?
Scaling a record does not add observations. The same short record remains short after multiplication. Minutes normalization does not control for role, opponent, lineup, fatigue or the circumstances in which the minutes were played.
Read games, total minutes and the reporting window beside the rate. Choose the measure that answers your question: total contribution, production per appearance or production per minute. No single number establishes which player is better.
Common questions
Can I average individual game rates to get a season rate?
For a season per-minute rate, add the counting totals and divide by the total minutes. An unweighted mean of individual game rates gives each game the same influence, even when minutes differ. State which quantity you are reporting.
Do missed games belong in games played?
In this example, games played means appearances. Check the source’s convention and state it: dividing by team games instead answers a different question.
Is per-36 a prediction?
No. Here it is an arithmetic scaling of the observed rate. A forecast needs a separate method and supporting evidence.
Review sample size, mean, median and the percentage-combining example.
Sources and scope
The SimulNBA per-36 explanation provides the scaling formula and its limits. The NBA glossary identifies the underlying basketball metrics. Sources checked October 22, 2026.
All player records and arithmetic examples here are invented for education. The references do not endorse KBH. This guide summarizes observations; it does not recommend bets or predict performance. No external expert review is claimed.