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The three-point field goal has been a part of professional basketball for decades, with the American Basketball League adopting it league-wide in 1961 with a 25-foot arc. The three-point shot was then adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in 1963, the American Basketball Association in 1967, and the NBA in 1979. The three-point line has since been adjusted multiple times, with the NBA shortening it to 22 feet in 1994 before returning it to its original position in 1997. Today, the three-point shot is an integral part of the NBA, with teams averaging about 37.5 three-point attempts per game. While some critics argue that the focus on three-pointers is detrimental to the game, the NBA maintains that fan research shows a positive response to the three-point revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of 3-pointers in professional basketball | The three-point shot was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line. It was then tested again in 1958 and 1961 before being implemented by the American Basketball League in 1961 with a 25-foot arc. The Eastern Professional Basketball League adopted it in 1963, followed by the American Basketball Association in 1967. The NBA acquired the ABA in 1976 and implemented the three-point shot in the 1979-80 season. |
| Current Usage in the NBA | The NBA currently has a three-point line of 23 feet, 9 inches at the top of the key, and 22 feet at the corners. The number of three-pointers shot in NBA games is at an all-time high, with teams shooting twice as many threes as they did 10 years ago. |
| Fan and Expert Opinion | Fan research conducted by the NBA has shown generally positive feedback regarding the volume of three-pointers. However, some experts argue that the game is becoming worse due to the over-reliance on three-pointers, with teams copying each other's strategies. |
| Impact on the Game | The three-point shot has revolutionized the game, with players embracing long-range jumpers and spending countless hours training on this skill. It has shifted the focus of offenses from easy layups and hook shots to long-distance attempts. |
| Statistical Leaders | As of April 1, 2025, Stephen Curry is the all-time leader in three-point field goals made. Other notable players known for their three-point shooting include Daryl Morey and Dušan Bulut. |
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What You'll Learn
History of the three-point line in the NBA
The three-point line in basketball was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. There were other one-game experiments in 1958 and 1961, but it was the American Basketball League (ABL) that became the first basketball league to institute the rule in 1961. As commissioner of the new league, Abe Saperstein wanted to add excitement to the game and distinguish the league from the NBA. He hoped the three-pointer would become basketball's equivalent of the home run.
After the ABL shut down in 1963, the three-point shot was adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in its 1963–64 season. It was also popularized by the American Basketball Association (ABA), which introduced it in its inaugural 1967–68 season. During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA.
In June 1979, the NBA adopted the three-point line on a one-year trial basis for the 1979–80 season. Many people thought it was a gimmick. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is credited with making the first three-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979.
In the following years, players like Ainge, Dale Ellis, Michael Adams, Vernon Maxwell, and Reggie Miller gained a reputation as three-point specialists. In 1994, Dale Ellis became the first NBA player to reach 1,000 career three-pointers. The NBA's distance from the basket to the three-point line is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m), while the WNBA, FIBA, and NCAA use a 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) arc.
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The three-point revolution
The NBA acquired the ABA in 1976 and implemented the three-point shot in the 1979-80 season, but it took about 40 years for three-point shooting to truly revolutionize the game. In the early days of the NBA, most points were scored near the basket, with offenses focused on easy layups or hook shots. Teams averaged less than five three-point attempts per game, as there was a higher chance of scoring by shooting closer to the basket.
Nowadays, three-point shooting is at an all-time high. Teams are shooting twice as many threes as they were 10 years ago, and almost three times as many as 20 years ago. The volume of three-pointers is not an issue for the NBA, as fans have loved the three-point revolution and are generally positive about the league's style of play. However, some critics argue that the three-pointer is making the game worse and that offenses are starting to look very similar.
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The impact of the three-point line
The three-point line has had a significant impact on the sport of basketball since its introduction. It was first introduced in 1945 during a game between Columbia and Fordham, with the line drawn 21 feet away from the hoop. The three-point shot was then tested two more times at the college level before being officially implemented by the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. The ABL became the first basketball league to institute the rule, with the goal of adding excitement to the game and differentiating itself from the NBA.
The three-point line has evolved over the years, with the distance from the basket varying by competition level. In the NBA, the arc is currently 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket, while in other competitions such as the FIBA, WNBA, and NCAA, the distance is slightly shorter at 22 feet 1.75 inches. The three-point line has not always been so widely adopted, and there was resistance to its implementation in the early years. For example, Franklin Mieuli, the then-owner of the Golden State Warriors, called the rule change "immoral," predicting that it would negatively impact the team aspect of the game.
Despite initial resistance, the three-point line has had a lasting impact on the sport. It has changed the way teams play and strategize, with some critics arguing that it has led to a more cookie-cutter" approach, with teams copying each other's offenses. Additionally, the three-point line has increased the importance of shooting and scoring in the game, with teams now averaging about 37.5 three-pointer attempts per game, a significant increase from previous years. The three-point line has also contributed to the popularity of the sport, with fans generally positive about the NBA's style of play and the volume of three-pointers.
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Rules and variations
The three-point shot has been a staple of basketball for decades, with its introduction creating a new era for the sport. The three-point line was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, and again in 1958 with a 23-foot line. The American Basketball League became the first league to implement the shot league-wide with a 25-foot arc in 1961, and the Eastern Professional Basketball League (now the Continental Basketball Association) adopted the shot two years later. The American Basketball Association (ABA) implemented the three-point shot for its inaugural 1967-68 season, using it as a marketing strategy to compete with the NBA.
The NBA itself didn't implement the three-point shot league-wide until the 1979-80 season, on a one-year trial that has since become permanent. The original line was 23 feet, 9 inches at the top of the key, and 22 feet at the corners. In the 1994-95 season, the NBA shortened the line to 22 feet all around the basket, which did prompt more three-point shooting, but it didn't solve the league's scoring problem. The three-point line was returned to its original position for the 1997-98 season.
The three-point shot has evolved from a rarely used tactic to a fundamental part of the game. Players and teams now spend countless hours training to perfect their long-range shooting, and it has become a highly valued skill. The volume of three-pointers in NBA games is at an all-time high, with teams shooting twice as many threes as they did a decade ago, and almost three times as many as 20 years ago. The average number of three-point attempts per game has increased from less than five to about 37.5.
While the three-point shot has added excitement and changed the strategic approach to the game, some critics argue that it may be becoming too dominant. There is a concern that offences are starting to look "cookie-cutter", with teams copying each other's strategies. To counter this, some have suggested moving the three-point line back to decrease the number of three-point attempts, as was done in the 2018-19 NCAA Division I men's basketball games, which saw a decrease in three-point shots from 39% to 37.5% of all shots.
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Three-point scoring leaders
Three-point scoring is an integral part of modern basketball, with the NBA's style of play and the volume of three-pointers finding favour with fans. The three-point shot was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. The three-point shot was eventually adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in its 1963–64 season.
The three-point shot has evolved over the years, with the NCAA and FIBA experimenting with different distances. In 2018-19, NCAA Division I men's basketball games featured more three-pointers as a percentage of all shots than NBA games, but the following season, the percentage dropped when the line was moved back to the FIBA distance of 22 feet, 1.75 inches.
The NBA keeps a progressive list of three-point scoring leaders, which shows how the record has increased over the years. As of April 1, 2025, Stephen Curry is the all-time leader in three-point scoring. Other notable players known for their three-point shooting include Daryl Morey, Richie Guerin, and Rudy Tomjanovich.
The three-point shot has had a significant impact on the strategy and style of play in basketball, with some critics arguing that it may be "turning toward making the game worse" by making it too valuable and causing teams to copy each other's offensive strategies. Despite this, the NBA has stated that they are happy with the state of the game and will continue to monitor fan research and data to make any necessary improvements.
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Frequently asked questions
A 3-point field goal is a shot taken from a distance greater than the 3-point line, which is an arc drawn at a certain distance from the center of the basket.
The three-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League in 1961, with a 25-foot arc.
Yes, the distance of the three-point line has changed over time. The NBA shortened the line to 22 feet around the basket in 1994 but reverted to the original distance of 23 feet 9 inches (22 feet at the corners) in 1997. The NCAA also experimented with different distances before settling on the FIBA distance of 22 feet 1.75 inches in 2019.
The 3-point shot has had a significant impact on the game of basketball, changing the way offenses are played and creating a new era of long-range shooting. Players and teams now spend countless hours training on their three-point shooting ability, and it has become a crucial aspect of the game.
