Turnovers Recorded as Official Stat

The Rule Change

The NBA began officially tracking turnovers as a box score statistic starting with the 1977-78 season. This completed the core statistical picture of player possessions — points, assists, and now turnovers could all be measured, enabling efficiency calculations.

Statistical Impact

Enabled the development of more sophisticated efficiency metrics. The assist-to-turnover ratio became a standard measure of point guard competence. Decades later, turnovers would become essential for calculating possessions, pace, and the advanced metrics that drive modern NBA analytics.

3-Year Average: Before vs. After