Stats explained · AST/TO

Assist-to-turnover ratio (AST/TO)

A playmaker who creates a lot also risks a lot. The assist-to-turnover ratio puts the two side by side.

The formula

AST/TO = AST ÷ TO

One of the standard ratios in basketball statistics: assists compared with turnovers committed.1

Worked example

#1 Guard, practice box score

8 assists, 3 turnovers.

8 ÷ 3 = 2.67

The practice box score on our box score page uses made-up numbers. For players, turnovers have only been counted since 1977–782, so the old greats have no AST/TO at all.

What it tells you

Whether a ball-handler's passing costs his team possessions.

What it does not

How hard the role is: a guard who runs the whole offence will have a lower ratio than one who only makes safe passes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Basketball statistics (version of 17 March 2026), CC BY-SA 4.0 checked 21 October 2026
  2. Wikipedia: Turnover (basketball) (version of 9 September 2026), CC BY-SA 4.0 checked 21 October 2026

Checked on 20 October 2026, unless a source has its own date. Wikipedia content is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; we take single numbers and facts from the versions linked above and say where a number is our own calculation. Spotted a mistake or a record that fell? Write to hello@boxscorestories.com.

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