Ayrton Oneill
The Elam Ending is a format used in basketball tournaments where, instead of a game clock, teams play to a target score. The target score is determined by adding a set number of points to the leading team's score. For example, if the leading team has a score of 80, the target score may be set at 88. The first team to reach the target score wins the game. This format was designed by Nick Elam to eliminate intentional fouling by the trailing team towards the end of the game, which was seen as a strategy to buy time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the target score system | Elam Ending |
| Person who devised the system | Nick Elam |
| Year of proposal | 2016 |
| Aim | To eliminate intentional fouls by teams trailing down the stretch |
| Implementation in The Basketball Tournament | Since 2018 |
| Calculation of target score | Leading team's score + 8 points |
| Game clock | Turned off at the first whistle with up to four minutes remaining |
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What You'll Learn
The Elam Ending
While the Elam Ending has been praised for creating more exciting endings, some have argued that it has the potential to create "ugly" endings when teams are unable to score. Additionally, there are concerns about preserving stats and playtime, which may result in games extending longer than necessary, especially in blowouts. Despite these considerations, the Elam Ending has been successful in reducing late-game fouling and providing a more electrifying experience for fans.
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How is the target score determined?
The target score in basketball tournaments is determined using the Elam Ending. This format was designed by basketball superfan and Ball State Professor, Nick Elam, who wanted to eliminate the intentional fouling that often occurs in the final minutes of a game. After years of analysis, he devised a system where, instead of playing to the end of the clock, teams play to a target score. This format has been compared to street basketball, which is typically played to a target score, and has since been adopted by several basketball leagues.
In The Basketball Tournament, the game clock is turned off at the first whistle with up to four minutes remaining. A target score is then determined by taking the leading team's current score and adding a certain number of points to it. Originally, the target score was seven points more than the leading team's score; since 2019, this has been increased to eight points. For example, if the score is 88-80 when the clock is turned off, the target score becomes 96, and the first team to reach this score wins.
The NBA All-Star Game has also adopted the Elam Ending, with some variations. In 2020, the target score was calculated by adding 24 points—the number Kobe Bryant wore for the final 10 seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers—to the leading team's score after three quarters. The fourth quarter was then played without a clock, with the first team to reach the target score declared the winner. The Elam Ending was well-received by fans and players, with the NBA reporting increased viewership and positive feedback.
The Elam Ending has also been adopted by other leagues, including the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the NAIA Mega Bowl, select high schools in Philadelphia and Texas, and rec leagues worldwide.
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Why was the target score system created?
The target score system, also known as the Elam Ending, was created by Ball State University professor Nick Elam. In 2004, Elam began working on a new format after becoming frustrated with the end of NCAA Tournament games, where the final minutes were often diluted with rushed offensive possessions and repeated fouling by the trailing team.
The Elam Ending removes the game clock at the start of the fourth quarter, with the first team to reach a target score declared the winner. The target score is determined by taking the leading team's score and adding a predetermined number of points. This format has been compared to street basketball, where games are typically played to a target score.
The target score system was designed to address several issues with the traditional basketball scoring format. Firstly, it aimed to eliminate excessive fouling by the trailing team, which was often used as a strategy to stop the clock and catch up to the leading team. Secondly, it sought to improve the flow of the game by removing the game clock, encouraging teams to focus on pure basketball possessions and defensive plays.
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) first implemented the Elam Ending in 2017, and by 2018, it was used in all games. The format received positive feedback from players and fans, with many praising the intense and electrifying experience it created. Since then, the target score system has been adopted by various leagues, including the NBA G-League, the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the Unrivaled women's 3-on-3 basketball league.
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When was the target score system implemented?
The target score system, also known as the Elam Ending, was first conceptualized by Ball State University professor Nick Elam in 2004. Frustrated by the intentional fouling and rushed offensive possessions that marred the final minutes of games, Elam began analyzing data from over 2,000 college and NBA games. He found that the trailing team resorted to intentional fouling at the end of the game around 1.5% of the time, a strategy that was not only frustrating for fans but also largely ineffective.
In 2016, Elam submitted his proposal to The Basketball Tournament (TBT), and it was implemented the following year in 2017 for its play-in games. Since the 2018 edition, the Elam Ending has been used in all TBT games. The format has been praised for eliminating dull finishes and creating more electrifying and intense experiences for fans, with TV ratings spiking in the fourth quarter as the game grew more competitive.
The Elam Ending works by turning off the game clock in the fourth quarter and setting a Target Score by adding a predetermined number of points to the leading team's score. This predetermined number is set by the league before the season or tournament, and it is typically around 7 to 9 points. The first team to reach the Target Score wins, ensuring that every game ends on a made basket.
Since its implementation in TBT, the Elam Ending has been adopted by other leagues, including the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the NBA G-League (for overtime only), and the NBA All-Star Game.
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Which tournaments use the target score system?
The target score system, also known as the Elam Ending, was first used by The Basketball Tournament in 2017. It was designed by basketball superfan and Mensa genius Nick Elam, who was frustrated by the rushed offensive possessions and repeated fouling by the trailing team that would occur in the final minutes of games. The format has been compared to how streetball is typically played, with the game clock turned off in the fourth quarter and teams playing to a target score. The target score is set by adding a predetermined number of points to the leading team's score, with the first team to reach the target score winning the game.
Since its implementation in The Basketball Tournament, the Elam Ending has been adopted by several other leagues and tournaments. This includes the Canadian Elite Basketball League, which first used the format in 2018 for its CEBL Summer Series tournament. The NBA G League has also adopted the Elam Ending, using it as an overtime format, with the target score set by adding 7 points to the leading team's score.
In 2020, the Elam Ending gained widespread attention when it was chosen as the format for the NBA All-Star Game. The target score for this game was set at 24 points more than the leading team's score after the third quarter, in honour of Kobe Bryant, who wore the number 24 during his last 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The format was well-received by fans and players, and it was used for subsequent NBA All-Star Games through 2023.
In addition to basketball, the target score system has been adapted for other sports. The organizers of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) announced in 2022 that they would hold a spin-off seven-a-side soccer event, The Soccer Tournament (TST), in 2023. TST utilizes an adapted version of the Elam Ending, with matches going into "Target Score Time" after two 20-minute halves, and the target score set at one goal more than the leading team's score.
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Frequently asked questions
The Elam Ending is a way to end basketball games that eliminate excessive fouling and intentional foulings by teams trailing down the stretch. The game clock is turned off with up to four minutes remaining and a target score is set by adding a certain number of points to the leading team's score. The first team to reach the target score wins.
The target score is determined by taking the leading team's current score and adding a certain number of points to it. The number of points added varies depending on the tournament and the stage of the game. For example, the 2020 NBA All-Star Game added 24 points to the leading team's score after the third quarter, while the World Basketball League (1988-1992) added 7 points to the leading team's score after four quarters of play.
The Elam Ending was first proposed by Nick Elam, a basketball superfan and Ball State Professor, in 2016. It was first used in The Basketball Tournament in 2017 and has since been adopted by other leagues such as the Canadian Elite Basketball League and the NBA G League.
The Elam Ending is named after its founder, Nick Elam.
