On-ball defense
What it measures
It is Deflections 1 : 3P contests 1 : Ace suppression 2. Each part is turned into a rank first, then combined in that ratio. From there it becomes a percentile, and then a grade.
Deflections and three-point contests are per 100 possessions. Opponent 3P% could not be measured reliably, so it is not used
Terms used here: Deflections / Contested shots / Per 100 possessions
How many players are ranked
This metric has no attempts cutoff. It measures volume itself, so doing little is correctly reflected as a low mark. Everyone in the qualified pool is ranked.
| Season | How many players are ranked | Qualified players |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 392 players | 392 players |
| 2018-19 | 403 players | 403 players |
| 2019-20 | 405 players | 405 players |
| 2020-21 | 416 players | 416 players |
| 2021-22 | 426 players | 426 players |
| 2022-23 | 407 players | 407 players |
| 2023-24 | 413 players | 413 players |
| 2024-25 | 430 players | 430 players |
| 2025-26 | 434 players | 434 players |
Other metrics in “Defense”
- Rim protection — Half how much shooting is suppressed within six feet, half how much rim defending is done at all (blocks, two-point contests, shots defended). The opponent FG% is credited to whoever was nearest, so the team's defense rides along with it
- Hustle — Charges drawn and loose balls recovered on defense, per 100 possessions. Rotating correctly never reaches the public data, so what is measured is the acts that do get recorded — not help defense itself