As you should know, during this past decade, the NBA has been going through some big changes. For some, it may not be obvious, but the truth is that the evolution of the 3-point line continues to change the sport of basketball. Everyone wants to be able to shoot the three ball, and it has honestly evolved the sport to a whole new level.
Players are beginning to learn how to shoot the ball, and it is starting to become a necessity for every team in the NBA. In addition to all these players developing the three ball in their game, the way the players utilize the shot is also beginning to evolve as years go by. There are NBA players like Damian Lillard, Trae Young, and of course, the man who started it all, Stephen Curry, who have evolved the game and who have inspired EVERY future athlete who wants to have a profession in basketball. Players are pulling up from DEEP, players are now pulling up from the fast break and the number of three pointers attempted is just rapidly growing. NBA players would rather take the open 3 than the open layup during this current generation. A team like the Houston Rockets lives and dies by the three ball. Their entire offense relies on three point shooting and they are a good team because everyone on their roster can shoot the three and space the floor out. If you are a great shooter then you can most definitely have a spot on any NBA roster. Think of someone like Kyle Korver, there are a lot of NBA teams out there who could use a sharpshooter extraordinaire like Korver. He is old, but that doesn’t matter, he will always find a spot on an NBA team as long as he continues to knock down the three ball at a high percentage.
In sports, evolution can truly be beautiful and amazing. It brings out attention and conversation. People get excited for something new. For many, new is simply better. I mean it’s very exciting, coaches and players need to adapt to new playing styles causing them to think outside the box, and they need to develop new strategies. For example, let’s take notice of the new NBA rule that is being experimented with this season. The [coach’s challenge] is very interesting and brings something new to the game. It gets us fans excited and brings a whole new life.
Throughout the years in the NBA, the 3-point shot has evolved in many ways. For better or for worse, it has evolved, and it is far from over. The objective and goal of the game of basketball have not changed but it has drastically shifted.
Three Point Shot History
In June of 1979, the Commissioner of the NBA, Larry O’Brien, and the board of NBA governors voted to add the 3-point shot as a trial for one year. Reportedly, this vote was very close and it could have easily gone the other way. It’s crazy to think what could have been if it had, but to me, it just would have meant them delaying the inevitable. During this time, the NBA was slowly dying and fans were just uninterested. This is something the league really needed and it ultimately opened the game up. During the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the NBA was known to be more physical and tough because players would often find themselves going to the rim more. As the 3-point shot began to evolutionize, the more this philosophy began to change. Adding the 3-point shot gave teams the ability to catch up quickly, reduce contact around the basket, and just gave them another weapon to use in the game. During the first few seasons, the 3-point shot was first added, and barely anyone shot 3-pointers, and the only reason why it continued was because of the fans, even the players didn’t like the idea during this time.
During the time the 3-point shot was first added, barely anyone shot them. A player named Chris Ford had the honor of making the first 3-point shot but let’s just say, nobody followed him. Even a player like Word B.Free, who was known for his DEEP twos, only took around 25 three point shots that year. There are players back in the day who were known to be great shooters, but even then, they only attempted less than 30 three point shots, and yet only made a few. During this time, teams averaged less than 5 three point shots and only made around 28 percent. No one was really into this new rule and it took A LOT of time to adjust.
Again, the only reason why 3-pointers continued after its first season, is because the fans just loved the idea. The NBA had no choice but to stick with this rule because they needed the fans to STAY watching. Although the fans loved it, the players DID NOT. During the next four years after its inaugural season, between 1980 and 1984, players shot even FEWER 3-point shots than they did during its FIRST SEASON. Let’s also not forget that they BARELY made any. To me this is just crazy, I mean you would figure that teams and players would begin to implement it more, just because of the BIG advantage the 3-point shot really gives. During these four seasons, teams only attempted TWO 3-pointers a game and made less than 25% of the shots they took. For these players, the 3-point line was considered to be TOO FAR AWAY from what they are normally accustomed to. Obviously, now people would be laughing back at this because NBA players are beginning to shoot much further away from the three point line and the distance is just getting bigger and bigger.
Here is a chart below showing how the number of three point attempts has evolved over the first 10 years:
As you can see, when the three point shot first originated back during the 1979-1980 NBA season leading up to the 1997-98 NBA season, the three point shot slowly began to rise in percentage, attempts, and makes per season. Note that what you are seeing is the LEAGUE WIDE averages. Thanks to [Basketball Reference], I was able to find percentages for every season. Although percentages, attempts, and makes slowly began to rise from the moment the rule was applied, it didn’t fully become utilized until the 1994-95 NBA season – there is a reason for that.
There were so many players back in the day who were considered to be THREE POINT SPECIALISTS but in reality, they only attempted a few per game. Even Larry Bird, someone who is considered a legendary three-point shooter, only took a few per game for those first four seasons, and he only shot about 26% from three.
As time went on, teams slowly began to implement the three point shot, and I guess, realized that it is a valuable tool to run in their offense. Larry Bird was the key to this evolution and he made people realize how important the three point shot was. Larry Bird was the key towards the very beginning of the three-point shot.
Here are Larry Bird’s averages during the first NINE years the three point rule was first introduced:
Just as Larry Bird began to increase the number of three point shots that he took, the league followed along. The first year Larry Bird attempted a lot of three point shots and made a high percentage, but after that, the next four years, that all changed, something happened. During the 1984 NBA season, Bird took this opportunity and realized that the 3-point shot was an opportunity to become one of the greats. What began as something that was just irrelevant and a gimmick, has now become a full on WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION in the NBA. Larry Bird single handedly made the three-point shot relevant. Between the 1984-94 NBA season, the 3-point shot usage quadrupled.
The 3-point field goal was actually first introduced in the ABA, which acted as a competitor to the NBA at the time. It was first introduced in the ABA during the 1967-68 season. The ABA commissioner George Mikan – former NBA player – stated that “it will give smaller players a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for fans”. During this time the three point line actually had a radius of 25 feet which is more than what we see today. The NBA decided to adopt this three point rule during their 1979 season. Ever since it was first adopted by the NBA, the radius of the three point line began as 25 feet, reduced to 22 feet, and later increased to its current radius of 23 feet and 9 inches. I would not be surprised if they decided to either increase the radius of the line a little more or just decide to experiment with a four point line the way the NBA is currently advancing.
The Adjustment Period
During the late 1960s, the ABA first introduced the 3-pointer, and generations had to rethink everything about the game of basketball. Let’s just say that it was crazy back then. Coaches and players found it really hard to adjust and most coaches even said that they would NEVER use the 3-point shot unless their team was losing late in the game, desperate for points. It was a hard adjustment period.
Players needed to learn how to recognize who the shooters were and how to guard them. Players needed to learn when it was best to shoot the three ball, and ultimately most players needed to learn to increase their range. At the time, the philosophy was to POUND THE BALL INSIDE. I mean why wouldn’t you, there are only two pointers, so everyone would want to get the easiest shot possible in the paint. It was hectic and very physical back in the day because players needed to do what was necessary to stop players from scoring in the painted area. Fans loved this adjustment, but it was just too hard for the players and coaches at the time.
You can tell by looking at the chart above, how hard the adjustment must have been for the FIRST 20 years the 3-point shot was created. Players needed to get accustomed to the 3-point line and they really had to work HARD to develop the range. Players were just so accustomed to scoring near the basket.
I would say that a great example of this adjustment is from one of the greatest players of all time, Michael Jordan. Jordan played college basketball at North Carolina during a time when there was NO 3-point line. In his rookie season, with the Chicago Bulls, he struggled a lot from the 3-point range and he was famously known for his slashing and mid-range shooting ability. During his rookie season, he only shot 9/52 from the 3-point range. It’s crazy how he never really shot beyond 20% from the 3-point line until his fifth season in the league. By the time his career was wrapping up, and the Bulls became a dynasty, MJ became a consistent 3-point shooter as he began to shoot OVER 35% from the 3-point line. MJ was known for his athleticism and his mid-range ability but he still worked hard and overcame this hard adjustment. He is a very good example of what it was like during this adjustment period.
Life Before the Three Point Shot
For the most part, you can already tell what life was like before the three-point shot was a thing. The NBA has been around since the 50s, and it didn’t get a three point shot until the late 70s. So we are looking at around over 30+ years of basketball without the three-point shot.
During this time I feel like you can already tell what it was like. Players were taught to score near the basket and to take the best basket possible. I mean if every shot, no matter how far, is worth TWO points, then you want to get the BEST shot possible. Think of players like Wilt Chamberlain for example. He was just a beast down low and no one could stop him. He scored entirely through free throws and shots near the basket. It’s crazy to think that he scored 100 points with just two pointers. The closest another player has gotten to Wilt is the great LEGEND, Kobe Bryant with 81 points, and that’s including 12 three pointers. Although it was all about scoring near the basket back in the day, there were a lot of players during the time who would excel in mid-range shooting. A skill that is becoming a dying art. There is a reason why I love players like Kobe. I just loved watching him shoot that mid-range like it was nothing. The mid-range shot is just so effective and it still is today. Unluckily, there aren’t many players around who implement it. There is a reason why I am so drawn to players like Demar Derozan and Kawhi Leonard. These two are still examples of players who are mid-range assassins currently in the NBA. There are only a few today, but before the 3-point shot, there were HUNDREDS.
Players who played back in the day call this generation SOFT. It is because in my opinion at least, it is pretty soft. Back in the day, players were rough, they were physical, and it was a real man’s game. Nowadays, players just love shooting the ball beyond the 3-point line, players flop, and the refs continue this action.
Now I honestly want to say that I am glad that the three-point shot was added in. I love shooting the ball and the three-point shot has just added so much for the game of basketball. I am sad that there are many dying elements in today’s generation, but I hope that someday they may return along with the new ones.
The Evolution
The three-point line still as of today, changes the sport of basketball.
Players out there are now starting to become super efficient with the three-point shot, players are starting to develop deeper ranges, and there is also an argument about the possibility of developing a four-point line. Players are still improving and utilizing the shot in many ways.
The three-point line differs between the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA. Here is a graphic created by [Stack] to help give you more input about the distances.
As you can tell by the graphic above, the NBA has the furthest distance with the three-point line currently. The shortest distance and easiest place to make a three is found in the corners. There are lots of players in the NBA who excel in corner three-point shooting and it is ultimately the easiest shot to make if you want to make 3 points that is.
Every season, NBA teams are starting to take more threes and there are no signs that the trend is leveling off. If anything, it’s taking off.
As you can see with the chart above, the number of three point attempts per game increases by season. You may notice that during the 1994-95 season, the number of three point attempts saw a HUGE spike. This became the second biggest movement for the 3-point shot. The NBA shortened the three point line during the 1994-95 season. Ultimately, the NBA wanted to see more scoring and so made three point line radius 22 feet all the way around, rather than what we saw before – 22 feet in the corners, stretching out all the way to 23 feet and 6 inches at the top.
As the distance began to shorten, three-point percentages took a big jump, and players just started taking more three point shots. Before this change was made in 1994, only three players had attempted 500 three pointers in a season. During the next three years after this change, we saw 12 different players attempt 500 three pointers. This was a really big change and players began to take notice. MANY records were SMASHED, and the newly acquired shortened 3-point line was just far too tempting to pass up.
In the end, the NBA decided to move the line back again to 22 feet in the corner, stretching to 23 feet and 6 inches at the top. By this time, coaches and players have had a few seasons to see the TRUE power of the 3-point shot. The experiment really worked.
The 3-point shot was added in to give shorter players a chance to score the ball more, but as time went on, it became CRUCIAL that big men add the three-point shot to their arsenal. It all began with big men such as Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett. These are two examples of some of the greatest power forwards and centers that we have seen. These two played a big part in making this change. They showed coaches and players how much their ability to space the floor out can really open the game up for everyone on the team. Let’s look at the Houston Rockets or the Toronto Raptors of 2020. The Houston Rockets have great ISO guards like James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Their entire team can shoot the basketball, so just think, everyone around the court spacing the floor out, while some of the greatest guard ISO players, drive to the basket with ease. If a player helps, they can just kick it out to the open shooter. The Toronto Raptors also had the same philosophy during their championship years. They had big men like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka who were good 3-point shooters. It opens up the game so much and creates a winning atmosphere.
Below you will find a graph that demonstrates the average number of 3-point attempts (3PA) per position during the 2019-20 NBA Season
As you can see Shooting Guards attempt the most threes, and obviously that makes sense. The objective of Shooting Guards is to space the floor out and shoot threes.
If you want to see the numbers associated with the percentages, look below:
Point Guard: 13,563
Shooting Guard: 21,677
Small Forward: 12,372
Power Forward: 12,518
Center: 5,672
TOTAL: 65,802
*Note that to find this, I calculated the TOTAL SUM to get the number*
Compare this graph to the one below from the 1867-87 season.
As you can see, you can see a HUGE DECLINE in the percentage with the big men back in the day. The numbers tell you even more
If you want to see the numbers associated with the percentages, look below:
Point Guard: 3,046
Shooting Guard: 3,298
Small Forward: 1,798
Power Forward: 670
Center: 63
TOTAL: 8,875
*Note that to find this, I calculated the TOTAL SUM to get the number*
Just look at the totals now, forget about the graph. This isn’t even a full NBA season and we already see around 65,802 three pointers attempted in the 2019-20 NBA season, compared to the 1986-87 NBA season where there were only 8,875 three pointers attempted.
Not to mention the difference between the big men attempting threes. The game is evolving and just ultimately changing.
Here is a graph that shows you more about the decline in mid-range shooting and three-point shooting between 1998 and 2018.
While the three-point shot increased from 13% to 33% between 1998 and 2018, mid-range shooting declined from 38% to 19% in field goal attempts.
Data shows that those teams that have a higher three-point percentage, WIN more games. This has been proven in many games and statistics show that.
I feel like the biggest change came when a particular player during the last decade decided to just GO OFF.
Here enters Stephen Curry. A VERY GOOD 3-point shooter and arguably the greatest shooter of all time. He was among the league leaders in three-point shooting in his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors. Curry’s breakthrough season came when he broke the three-point record with 272 during the 2012-13 NBA season. After that season, Curry has beat countless records, has won numerous 3-point contests, and just keeps on breaking his own record. Larry Bird may have started the movement back when the rule was made, but Curry has evolved it to a whole NEW level. Everyone wants to be like Curry, and he has inspired so many athletes. So many NBA players and basketball athletes are starting to incorporate everything Curry does. He is an inspiration to many.
Now let’s not forget about three point sharpshooters like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Klay Thompson who are most certainly part of the movement, but you need to recognize the one who has changed basketball FOREVER, Stephen Curry.
In Conclusion, It was quite interesting to explore how the NBA and basketball in general has changed because of the addition of the three-point shot. Without it, I seriously don’t know where we would be right now, and honestly, the evolution of the three shot has changed basketball for the BETTER. The addition of the 3-point line has made basketball a completely NEW and GREATER experience for fans and players all around. A game that involves more strategy, and it just brings the idea of making the game more all-around. Three-point shooting has brought out energy in the sport that you would not be able to experience back before the 80s.
If you want to know some of the greatest shooters in NBA History, check out my thoughts on the [Top 10 Shooters in NBA History], with an honorary list of course.
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