Amanda Knapp
The three-point shot was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL), which folded after a year and a half. The Eastern Professional Basketball League adopted the rule in 1963, and the American Basketball Association (ABA) followed suit in its inaugural 1967–68 season. The NBA, however, considered the three-point shot a gimmick and didn't adopt it until 1979. The NCAA adopted it in 1986, and high schools followed in 1987.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in the NBA | 1979-1980 season |
| Distance of the 3-point line | 23 feet, 9 inches at the top of the key; 22 feet at the corners |
| First player to make an NBA 3-pointer | Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics |
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in FIBA competitions | 1984 |
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in the Olympics | 1988 |
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in the NCAA | 1987 |
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in high school basketball | 1988 |
| First professional basketball league to introduce the 3-point line | American Basketball League (ABL), in 1961 |
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What You'll Learn
- The three-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961
- The NBA added the three-point line in 1979
- The NCAA first used the three-point line universally in 1987
- The three-point shot was seen as a gimmick when it was first introduced
- The three-point line has become one of the most important rules in basketball
The three-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961
The three-point line in basketball was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. The ABL, founded by Abe Saperstein, was a new league created to compete with the NBA. Saperstein, also the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, wanted to add excitement to the game and believed that smaller players were being forced out by taller ones.
The three-point line was instituted to give smaller players a chance to compete and bring fans out of their seats. It was seen as the basketball equivalent of a home run in baseball. Saperstein wanted to call the shot the "25-foot home run", but other ABL founding members thought this was too extreme. They eventually compromised on a distance of 25 feet from the backboard instead of the middle of the rim.
The ABL shut down in 1963, and the three-point line was then picked up by the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. The ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, to market itself as more entertaining than the NBA. The NBA acquired the ABA in 1976 but did not implement the three-point shot until the 1979-80 season, when it was introduced on a one-year trial basis. The three-point line was positioned at a distance of 22 feet from the hoop in the corners and 23 feet and nine inches to the top of the arc.
Despite initial scepticism, the three-point shot gradually gained popularity and changed the way basketball was played. It took about 40 years for three-point shooting to truly revolutionise the game, but it has now become one of the most important rules in basketball, with elite shooters expected to have both efficiency and shooting range.
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The NBA added the three-point line in 1979
The addition of the three-point line was one of the biggest changes in the history of the game. It was initially seen as a gimmick and an afterthought by players and coaches, who preferred to stick to more traditional strategies. However, over time, it became a powerful tool, with players like Stephen Curry revolutionising the game with their accuracy from beyond the arc.
When the NBA first introduced the three-point line, it had minimal impact on the game. This was partly because the NBA had only recently merged with the ABA, and the three-pointer was associated with the ABA, which the NBA had acquired due to its dwindling popularity. As a result, many in the NBA had a sour taste regarding the three-point line, and it took time for its importance to be fully realised.
The three-point line was added to increase excitement and give smaller players a chance to compete. The distance of the line was set at 23 feet 9 inches at the top of the key, shortened to 22 feet at the corners. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics made the NBA's first three-pointer in a 114-106 win over the Houston Rockets on October 12, 1979.
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The NCAA first used the three-point line universally in 1987
The three-point line was first introduced in the NBA during the 1979-80 season. However, the NBA wasn't the first professional basketball league to introduce the three-point line. The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first, but it shut down by 1963, so the American Basketball Association (ABA) is credited with popularizing the three-pointer.
The three-point line 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 several other one-game experiments in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1961, Boston University and Dartmouth played one game with an experimental rule that counted all field goals as three points. The three-point line made its way to all FIBA competitions at a distance of 20 feet and six inches in 1984 before making its Olympic debut in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.
In 2007, 20 years after the introduction of the three-point line, the NCAA lengthened the men's distance by one foot to 20 feet and nine inches, effective with the 2008-09 season. The women's line was moved to match the men's in 2011-12. The NCAA experimented with the FIBA arc in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2018 and 2019, then adopted that distance for all men's play with a phased conversion that began with Division I in the 2019-20 season.
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The three-point shot was seen as a gimmick when it was first introduced
The three-point shot in basketball was first introduced by the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. However, the league folded in 1963, and the three-point shot was then adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in the 1963-64 season. The American Basketball Association (ABA) also played a significant role in popularizing the three-point shot, introducing it in its inaugural 1967-68 season. Despite its early adoption by these leagues, the three-point shot was initially seen as a gimmick or a novelty when it was first introduced into the game.
The perception of the three-point shot as a gimmick was evident when the NBA first adopted the rule in 1979 for the 1979-80 season. Many viewed it as a mere gimmick or desperation tactic, and it was met with skepticism and resistance from traditionalists. The NBA's introduction of the three-point line was a significant shift, forcing coaches and players to rethink their offensive and defensive strategies. The game evolved from being focused on interior play with post-ups and mid-range jump shots to a more dynamic and fluid style, emphasizing spacing and ball movement.
The ABA commissioner George Mikan described the three-pointer as a way to give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans. This sentiment was echoed by ABL commissioner Abe Saperstein, who introduced the three-point rule to add excitement to the game and give smaller players a chance to compete, likening it to a 25-foot home run. However, other ABL founding members thought that calling it a "home run" was a bit too much, and they settled on drawing the three-point line 25 feet from the backboard instead of the middle of the rim.
In the late 1980s, the perception of the three-point shot began to change, and it evolved from a gimmick to an essential offensive weapon. Players like Danny Ainge, who made over 100 three-pointers in a season in 1988, became known as three-point specialists. The introduction of the three-point shot revolutionized the game, sparking debates among purists, analysts, and fans about the over-reliance on this shot and its implications for the sport's future.
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The three-point line has become one of the most important rules in basketball
The three-point shot was first introduced by the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961, with the American Basketball Association (ABA) implementing it for their inaugural 1967-68 season. The ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a way to market itself as more entertaining than the NBA. In 1976, the NBA acquired the ABA, but it wasn't until three years later that they introduced the three-point line.
Initially, the three-point shot was seen as a gimmick or a "parlour trick" and was not taken seriously by coaches and players. This was partly because the NBA game at the time was focused on building a team around a "big man", with offences centred on the key rather than perimeter shooting. Additionally, the skill level needed to consistently make three-point shots was not yet widespread, as most players and coaches had grown up playing without the three-point line.
However, over time, the three-point shot became increasingly important in the NBA. The game evolved from the slower, more methodical style of the 1970s and early 1980s to a faster-paced, high-scoring spectacle. The three-point line played a key role in this transformation, as it created more space on the court and allowed players to attack the basket more easily. Today, an elite NBA shooter is expected to have not only a high level of efficiency but also a long-range shooting ability, with players like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard setting new standards for three-point shooting. The three-point shot has also led to the development of new offensive strategies, such as the "spread offence", which takes advantage of the increased spacing on the court.
In conclusion, while it took several decades for the three-point line to become a pivotal part of basketball, it has since transformed the way the game is played and has become one of the most important rules in the sport. The three-point shot has added a new dimension to basketball, requiring players to develop new skills and strategies, and has contributed to the sport's excitement and popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
The 3-pointer was first introduced to the NBA in the 1979-80 season.
The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first league to introduce the 3-pointer in 1961. However, since it shut down by 1963, the American Basketball Association (ABA) is credited with popularizing the 3-pointer.
The 3-point line was positioned at a distance of 22 feet from the hoop in the corners and 23 feet and 9 inches to the top of the arc.
