Ayrton Oneill
The three-point line in basketball was first introduced in 1961 in the American Basketball League (ABL), which only lasted one and a half seasons. The three-point shot was then adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) in the 1963-64 season, and later by the American Basketball Association (ABA) in its inaugural 1967-68 season. The NBA, which had existed since 1946, did not adopt the three-point line until 1979, initially on a one-year trial basis. The three-point line has since become universal across all levels of basketball, although the distance from the basket varies by competition level.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of introduction | 1979 |
| Distance from the basket | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket; 22 feet (6.7 m) minimum |
| First player to score a three-pointer | Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics |
| Date of first three-pointer | October 12, 1979 |
| Initial reception | Many considered it a gimmick |
| First use in a professional league | 1961 in the American Basketball League (ABL) |
| First use in the NBA | 1979-80 season |
| First use in NCAA | 1986 |
| First use in high school basketball | 1987 |
| First use in FIBA | 1984 |
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What You'll Learn
- The three-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961
- The Eastern Professional Basketball League adopted the three-point shot in 1963
- The American Basketball Association (ABA) popularised the three-point shot in 1967
- The NBA first implemented the three-point line in 1979
- The three-point shot has altered the way basketball is played
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 was founded by Abe Saperstein, the creator of the Harlem Globetrotters, with the intention of competing against the National Basketball Association (NBA). Saperstein, who believed that shorter players were being outperformed by taller ones, introduced the three-point line to give smaller players an opportunity to showcase their shooting skills and compete with their taller counterparts.
The ABL only lasted a season and a half before folding, and the three-point shot was not immediately adopted by other leagues. However, the idea of the three-point shot resurfaced in the mid-1960s when a new league was formed to challenge the NBA. This led to the creation of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967, which enthusiastically embraced the three-point shot as a key part of its strategy to differentiate itself and attract fans.
The ABA's inaugural 1967-68 season marked the first mainstream use of the three-point shot in a professional league, and it quickly became a popular feature of the game. The ABA commissioner, George Mikan, an NBA legend himself, was a strong proponent of the three-point shot. He likened it to a “home run" in baseball, arguing that it would bring fans to their feet and create a more exciting and entertaining experience.
Following the ABA's lead, other leagues began to adopt the three-point shot. The Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) introduced it in the 1963-64 season, and it was later implemented by the NBA in 1979, initially on a one-year trial basis during the 1979-80 season. Despite initial resistance and concerns that it was a gimmick, the three-point shot has since become a permanent and integral part of the game, revolutionizing the way basketball is played and enjoyed by fans worldwide.
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The Eastern Professional Basketball League adopted the three-point shot in 1963
The three-point shot in basketball was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, in a game between Columbia and Fordham. However, it was not kept as a rule. There were two more recorded experiments with the three-point shot at the college level, in 1958 and 1961, before the American Basketball League (ABL) became the first league to implement the shot league-wide in 1961, with a 25-foot arc.
In 1963, two years after the ABL shut down, the three-point shot was adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League (now known as the Continental Basketball Association) in its 1963-64 season. The American Basketball Association (ABA) also implemented the shot for its inaugural 1967-68 season. The ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA.
The NBA itself did not adopt the three-point line until 1979, for the 1979-80 season, initially on a one-year trial basis. The three-point shot was met with scepticism, with many viewing it as a gimmick. However, it has since become a permanent fixture of the NBA, with the league-wide 3-point rate (the percentage of all field goal attempts that come from beyond the arc) increasing in each of the last 10 seasons.
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The American Basketball Association (ABA) popularised the three-point shot in 1967
The American Basketball Association (ABA) popularised the three-point shot in its inaugural 1967–68 season. The three-point shot was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, but it was the ABA that brought it to the forefront. The ABA commissioner, George Mikan, stated 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". The league had a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play, and the three-point shot fit perfectly into this style.
The three-point shot was introduced to add excitement to the game and reduce the advantage of taller players closer to the basket. During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the more established NBA. The ABA wanted to showcase itself as a more entertaining league than the NBA, which was dealing with dwindling popularity at the time. The three-point shot provided a dramatic benefit that encouraged players to shoot from longer ranges, even with a relatively low completion rate.
The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies by competition level. In the NBA, the arc is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the centre of the basket, while in other leagues such as the FIBA, WNBA, NCAA, and NAIA, the arc is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the centre. The distance can impact the frequency and strategy of three-point attempts, as seen in the NCAA when they moved the line back to the FIBA distance, resulting in a slight decrease in three-point shots.
The ABA's adoption of the three-point shot left a lasting impact on the game of basketball. The NBA eventually adopted the three-point line in the 1979–80 season, and since then, three-point shooting has become an integral part of basketball strategy and gameplay. Today, three-point shooting is at an all-time high, with teams shooting twice as many threes as they did a decade ago. The ABA's innovation not only added excitement to the game but also contributed to the evolution of basketball strategy and the increasing emphasis on long-range shooting.
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The NBA first implemented the three-point line in 1979
The three-point shot was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL), which only lasted a season and a half. In 1967, the American Basketball Association (ABA) adopted the three-point line for its inaugural 1967-68 season, along with other fan-friendly ideas like a slam dunk contest and a red, white, and blue basketball. The ABA used the three-point shot as a marketing tool to compete with the NBA, but it wasn't until after the ABA and NBA merged in 1976 that the NBA adopted the three-point line.
In the early years of the three-point line in the NBA, it had minimal impact on the game, and it wasn't until the 1986-87 season that the league collectively shot better than 30% from beyond the arc. Over time, the three-point shot has become an integral part of NBA strategy, with teams increasingly relying on three-point shooting to score. This has sparked debates about whether the three-point line should be altered or abolished to encourage more offensive variety.
Today, the three-point line is universal across all levels of basketball, although the distance from the basket varies. The NBA's three-point line is currently set at 23 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket, with a distance of 22 feet from the corners. The three-point shot has permanently changed the way NBA basketball is played, with players and fans embracing its dramatic impact on the game.
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The three-point shot has altered the way basketball is played
The three-point shot has had a significant impact on the way basketball is played, from the professional game to the college and high school level. The three-point shot was first introduced at the collegiate level in 1945, and it has since become a staple of the game, with the NBA adopting it in the 1979-80 season.
One of the most significant ways the three-point shot has altered basketball is by providing a new offensive strategy. Teams can now stretch the floor and create more scoring opportunities from long range. This has led to a shift in the way players and coaches approach the game, with a greater emphasis on shooting and less focus on traditional post-play and mid-range shots. The three-point shot has also opened up the game for smaller players, giving them a chance to contribute more offensively.
The NBA's adoption of the three-point shot was met with some criticism, with some arguing that it would take away from the team aspect of the game and make it too one-dimensional. However, the three-point shot has endured and evolved, with the NBA making adjustments to the distance of the line over the years. The three-point shot has also been a popular addition to the game, with fans embracing the excitement and pace it brings.
At the college and high school levels, the three-point shot has had a similar impact, with players and coaches adapting their strategies to take advantage of the long-range shot. The three-point shot has also altered the way players develop their skills, with a greater focus on shooting and less emphasis on traditional back-to-the-basket moves. This has led to a shift in the way young players approach the game, with a desire for immediate rewards and a focus on shooting from beyond the arc.
Overall, the three-point shot has had a profound impact on the way basketball is played, changing offensive strategies, player development, and the overall pace and excitement of the game. While there have been discussions about altering or abolishing the three-point line, it remains a pivotal aspect of modern basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The 3-point line was first introduced in 1961 in the American Basketball League (ABL).
The 3-point line was first introduced in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. The ABL only lasted for a season and a half, and the 3-point line was not kept as a rule.
The NBA first introduced the 3-point line in the 1979-80 season, initially on a one-year trial basis.
The 3-point line is now universal across all levels of basketball, with variations in the distance from the basket depending on the league. The NBA, WNBA, FIBA, NCAA, and NAIA all have their own specified distances for the 3-point line.
