Basketball WAR statistic

[Rexington]

For years now I have been doing basketball statistical analysis using a few formulas. The one I have been using for about 20 yrs I saw in a book by an author I don't remember. The formula weighs each each counting stat equally and divides by minutes. That is the short of it. I like weighing everybody on a level playing field, but counting stats are not equal to each other. What I want to develope is a stat similar to baseballs WAR stat. I am trying to develop a stat that weighs each person against a league average player of that year. I would eventually like to do this for all years beginning with the 77-78 season< the first to track TO and PF. The main thing I want to do is make this stat somewhat easy for the armchair fan with highschool level mathskills to calculate. Anybodies input would be greatly appreciated.

[Mike G]

There are a number of player metrics that give different weights to box-score stats, then add them up. These are called 'linear weights' measures.
The metrics vary quite a bit in how they rate players. Consider that player A may score 20 points on just 10 attempts, while another player scores 20 points on 30 attempts.
Do you subtract the attempts from the points?

Also consider that one player may average 20 points for a team that allows (or scoring) only 90 per game; another averages 20 for a team that regularly gives up/scores 110. Even supposing these players' points and attempts are the same, are their points worth the same?

Browse around and find out what others think, and what's been done already.