The statistic, a measure of a player’s impact on the scoreboard while they are on the court, is determined by the point differential between their team and the opposing team during their playing time. For example, if a team outscores their opponent by 10 points while a specific player is playing, that player receives a +10 rating. Conversely, if the team is outscored by 5 points during that player’s minutes, the rating is -5.
This metric offers a quick assessment of a player’s influence beyond standard box score statistics. It provides a single number that summarizes whether a team generally performs better or worse with a particular player on the floor. The historical context of the statistic stems from a need to quantify intangible contributions, providing a broader view of a player’s value that complements traditional scoring or rebounding statistics.
