Helena Frye
In basketball, three points are awarded for scoring a field goal. This is commonly referred to as a 'three-pointer'. The three-point shot was first introduced in 1945 in a game between Columbia and Fordham, although it was not kept as a rule. The American Basketball League (ABL) became the first league to institute the rule in 1961, with the three-point line set at 22 feet from the basket. The three-point shot has since become a staple of modern basketball, with teams shooting twice as many threes as they did 10 years ago.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance from the basket to the three-point line in the NBA | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the centre of the basket; 22 feet (6.71 m) at the corners |
| Distance from the basket to the three-point line in the WNBA, FIBA, NCAA, NAIA | 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the centre of the basket |
| Distance from the basket to the three-point line in the NFHS | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) from the centre of the basket |
| First basketball league to institute the three-point rule | American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 |
| First player to make a three-point shot in NBA history | Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics on October 12, 1979 |
| First collegiate conference to use the three-point rule | NCAA's Southern Conference |
| First to score a three-point field goal in college basketball history | Ronnie Carr of Western Carolina on November 29, 1980 |
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What You'll Learn
History of the three-point rule in basketball
The three-point rule in basketball has a long and fascinating history, evolving from its early experimental days to becoming a staple of the modern game. The concept of the three-point shot was first introduced in a 1945 collegiate game between Columbia and Fordham, featuring a 21-foot line. However, it was not adopted as an official rule at that time.
The idea of the three-point line resurfaced in subsequent years, with various leagues and organisations experimenting with different distances. In 1958, a one-game experiment was conducted with a 23-foot line in a match between St. Francis (NY) and Siena. The concept was further explored in 1961 and 1962, with Boston University and Dartmouth playing a game where all field goals counted as three points.
The American Basketball League (ABL) became the first league to officially institute the three-point rule in 1961, with a 25-foot arc and a 22-foot arc at the corners. However, the ABL ceased operations in 1963, and the Eastern Professional Basketball League adopted the three-point shot for its 1963-64 season.
The American Basketball Association (ABA) played a significant role in popularising the three-point shot during its inaugural 1967-68 season. ABA commissioner George Mikan believed that the three-pointer would "give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans." During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA.
Despite initial resistance from the NBA, which viewed the three-point shot as a gimmick, the league eventually adopted the rule for the 1979-80 season, influenced by the merging of the ABA and the NBA in 1976. The introduction of the three-point shot in the NBA was expected to bring about fundamental changes to the way the game was played. Initially, NBA teams averaged less than three three-point shots per game, but over time, the reliance on three-point shooting grew exponentially.
In the collegiate level, the three-point rule was gradually implemented across different conferences, with the NCAA officially adopting it for the 1986-87 season. The distance for the three-point line varies across different competitions, with the NBA and WNBA having different distances compared to organisations like FIBA, NCAA, and WNBA.
While the three-point shot has added excitement and strategic depth to the game, it has also sparked debates about its potential drawbacks. Critics argue that the game has become too focused on three-point shooting, leading to discussions about altering or abolishing the rule to encourage more offensive variety. Nonetheless, the three-point shot remains an integral part of modern basketball, shaping the strategies and records of the sport.
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The impact of the three-point line on NBA basketball
The three-point line has had a significant impact on the NBA since its introduction in the 1979-80 season. Initially, it was seen as a gimmick, but it has since become an integral part of the game, with teams averaging about 37.5 three-point attempts per game today. The three-point line has changed the way NBA basketball is played, with teams adopting different strategies and players specialising in three-point shooting.
The three-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 by commissioner Abe Saperstein, who wanted to add excitement to the game and compete with the bigger NBA. The ABL shut down in 1963, but the three-point shot was adopted by other leagues, including the American Basketball Association (ABA), which used it as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA. The NBA itself acquired the ABA in 1976 and introduced the three-point line in the 1979-80 season, initially on a one-year trial basis.
The distance from the basket to the three-point line in the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 metres), with the arc becoming parallel to the sideline at a distance of 3 feet (0.91 metres) from it. This distance varies by competition level, with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), WNBA, NCAA, and NAIA using an arc of 6.75 metres (22 feet 1.75 inches), and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) using an arc of 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 metres).
The introduction of the three-point line has had a significant impact on the way NBA teams play. Initially, it was thought that the three-point line would lead to more scoring, as it provided an incentive for players to shoot from longer distances. However, this did not prove to be the case, as teams continued to play slower and scoring dipped to levels not seen since the 1950s. The NBA has experimented with different distances for the three-point line, including shortening it to 22 feet around the basket in the 1994-95 season, but this did not have the desired effect on scoring. It took 20 years for scoring to return to the levels of the 1970s and 1980s, and today, three-point shooting is at an all-time high, with teams shooting almost three times as many threes as they were 20 years ago.
Despite the increase in three-point attempts, there is still variation in play types from team to team, and the share of shots in the paint remains largely unchanged. However, some critics argue that the three-point shot is making the game worse, and that offenses are starting to look similar as teams copy each other's strategies. Nonetheless, fan sentiment towards the three-point shot in the NBA remains generally positive, and no substantial changes are expected any time soon.
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The three-point line in the American Basketball League
The three-point line has been a feature of basketball for decades, but its inclusion in the sport hasn't always been a given. The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first professional basketball league to introduce the three-point line, doing so in 1961. The ABL's commissioner, Abe Saperstein, wanted to add excitement to the game and help the fledgling league distinguish itself from the more established NBA.
Saperstein and DePaul University coach Ray Meyer decided on a 25-foot line, though this was shortened to 22 feet by the other ABL owners. However, Saperstein, who had significant power in the league as owner of the Globetrotters, ignored the ruling and games continued with the 25-foot shot. He eventually added a 22-foot line in the corners, which "made for interesting possibilities".
Despite the ABL's shutdown in 1963, the three-point shot lived on. It was adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in the 1963-64 season, and then popularised by the American Basketball Association (ABA) in its inaugural 1967-68 season. The ABA's commissioner, George Mikan, believed the three-point shot "would give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans".
The NBA eventually adopted the three-point line in 1979, though only on a one-year trial basis. It has since become a staple of the league, with players like Steph Curry making a record number of three-pointers. The three-point line has been tweaked over the years, with the NBA experimenting with different distances to try and increase scoring. The three-point shot has also been introduced at the collegiate level, with the NCAA first adopting it for the 1986-87 season.
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The three-point shot in collegiate basketball
The three-point shot has had a significant impact on basketball, including at the collegiate level. The three-point shot was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL), which was looking for ways to add excitement to the game and differentiate itself from the NBA. The ABL shut down in 1963, but the three-point shot lived on, adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) in the 1963-64 season, and then the American Basketball Association (ABA) in its inaugural 1967-68 season. The ABA used the three-point shot as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA, but it wasn't until 1979 that the NBA adopted the three-point line, initially on a one-year trial.
At the collegiate level, the three-point shot was first tested in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. There were further one-game experiments in 1958 and 1961, and in 1962, Daniel Lynch, head coach of St. Francis (New York), again made the suggestion of a three-point line to the New York Basketball Writers Association. The NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot (6.71-meter) line for the 1980-81 season. Ronnie Carr of Western Carolina was the first to score a three-point field goal in collegiate basketball history on November 29, 1980.
Over the following five years, different NCAA conferences adopted the three-point rule with varying distances, from 17 feet 9 inches (5.41 meters) in the Atlantic Coast Conference to 22 feet (6.71 meters) in the Big Sky. The NCAA adopted the three-point rule for the 1986-87 season, with a distance of 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 meters), and it was first used in the NCAA tournament in March 1987. The three-point rule was also adopted for women's basketball in the 1987-88 season.
The distance for the men's three-point shot was lengthened to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters) for the 2008-09 season, and the women's line was moved to match in 2011-12. In 2018 and 2019, the NCAA experimented with the FIBA three-point line distance of 6.75 meters (22 feet 1.75 inches) in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), before adopting that distance for all men's play beginning in the 2019-20 season.
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The evolution of three-point shooting techniques
The three-point shot has transformed basketball, changing the way the sport is played, watched, and analyzed. Its evolution can be traced back to the early years of the NBA, when it was first introduced as a new rule. Initially, the three-pointer was met with mixed reactions and was not frequently utilized by players and coaches. However, pioneers like Larry Bird began to showcase the potential of this shot, and soon it became an integral part of basketball strategy.
The American Basketball Association (ABA) played a pivotal role in popularizing the three-point shot during its inaugural 1967–68 season. ABA commissioner George Mikan believed that the three-pointer would "give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans." During the 1970s, the ABA effectively used the three-point shot as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA.
It wasn't until 1979 that the NBA finally adopted the three-point line, initially on a one-year trial basis. Despite being viewed as a gimmick by many, the three-point shot gradually became a staple of the game. The introduction of the three-point line marked a significant shift in basketball strategy, setting the stage for the modern era where it is a cornerstone of team tactics.
Over time, the importance and frequency of three-point shooting have increased exponentially, with rare teams abstaining from incorporating it into their offensive strategies. This shift has been so profound that coaches now recruit players specifically for their long-range shooting abilities. The pursuit of efficiency and the relentless quest for the perfect three-point shot have led to the development of advanced training techniques and tools to enhance shooting mechanics and muscle memory.
The influence of social media platforms has also had a profound impact on the popularity of three-point shooting. Highlight reels showcasing deep threes and clutch shots have gone viral, inspiring young players to emulate their favorite stars. This has resulted in a greater emphasis on three-point shooting at the grassroots level. As players continue to push boundaries, new techniques like the "side-step" and "step-back" three have emerged, adding complexity to the game and keeping fans and analysts captivated by the ever-evolving nature of basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Three points in basketball refer to the three-point field goal, which is a shot taken from outside the three-point line.
The three-point line is an arc on the basketball court that is located at a set distance from the basket. The distance of the line from the basket determines whether a field goal counts as two or three points.
The distance of the three-point line from the basket has varied over time and depends on the league and conference. In the NBA, the three-point line is currently located 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket (22 feet at the corners). In the NCAA, the distance varies between conferences, with the line located between 17 feet 9 inches and 22 feet from the basket.
The concept of the three-point line was first introduced in 1945 during a collegiate game between Columbia and Fordham. However, it was not officially adopted as a rule until 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL).
