What is turnover (to) in basketball?
A turnover is charged to a player who loses possession to the other team without a shot attempt — through a bad pass, a lost dribble, an offensive foul, or a violation.
How turnover is recorded
Charged to the player responsible. When a defender causes it directly, that defender is also credited with a steal.
Worked example from a box score
A point guard with 5 AST and 2 TO had a controlled night; the same 5 AST next to 6 TO means the offence lost more than it gained.
What a good turnover looks like at youth level
Two to three turnovers a game is normal for a youth ball-handler playing heavy minutes. Four or more is where it starts costing games.
Why it matters for a youth athlete
Turnovers matter most as a ratio against assists, not as a raw count. Ball-handlers who play a lot of minutes will have turnovers; the question is how many possessions they create for every one they lose.
PROSCORE logs turnover inside the basketball season record and keeps it attached to your athlete — free for families.
Related terms
PROSCORE tracks every one of these automatically and keeps them attached to your athlete's season — free for families.