It's a reasonable assumption that no one under the age of 30 remembers collegiate or professional basketball being played without a 3-point line. However, basketball has been played for a long time without the 3-point shot. For years, the NBA thought it was a gimmick. The NCAA was even more hesitant to implement the regulation.
In 1950, the NBA adopted a 3-point line as part of a series of changes intended to make the game more exciting. The 3-pointer became legal when the ball was in flight or just after it hit the ground out of bounds. Before this change, players could only shoot behind the backboard from the free throw line.
The first official 3-point contest in college basketball took place on December 29, 1951, between UCLA and Stanford. Both teams used guest players because no coaches wanted to lose their jobs by letting their schools lose.
UCLA's guest player was Lew Alcindor (now known as Michael Jordan), who made all three of his attempts at the charity stripe and won the game for his team with scores of 100-93. Stanford's player was John Wooden, who was making his debut as a coach. He too made all three of his shots and lost by one point, 102-103. This is the first time anyone has scored 100 points in a college basketball game.
Basketball players and viewers alike have become accustomed to the 3-point shot. It's a reasonable assumption that no one under the age of 30 remembers collegiate or professional basketball being played without a 3-point line. However, basketball has been played for a long time without the 3-point shot.
"It got everyone up out of their chairs." The ABA and NBA amalgamated in 1976, with the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and New Jersey Nets entering the NBA. Initially, the 3-point shot was not included in the bundle. The NBA remained steadfast in its adherence to the game's traditions.
The 3-point line is universal across all levels of basketball, despite the fact that the distances vary. The NBA uses a 22-foot 3-point line in the corners and a 23-foot, 9-inch line in the rest of the court. The WNBA and overseas games use a 20-foot-6-inch line. High school games are played under a 14-foot line.
A 3 pointer is shot from beyond the arc. The shooter gets one try per game, and scores are worth three points. A make or miss does not affect the score; only shots that go in earn those points.
In college basketball, made 3s are worth 2 points; missed 3s are worth 1 point. In the NBA, made 3s are worth 3 points; missed 3s are still worth 1 point. But since the turn of the century, no 3 has been attempted during overtime in either league.
In international basketball, made 3s are worth 5 points; missed 3s are still worth 1 point.
The term "3 point shot" can also refer to any shot taken beyond the normal range of free throws. Such shots include the layup, which is scored if it goes in, even if it was not made from behind the 3-point line. And they include the dunk, which is always scored regardless of where it was taken from.
The shortest three-point shot from the corner is 22 feet from the basket. As you go closer to the top of the arc, the three-pointer grows longer and longer. Making a Three-Point Line in the NBA There are very few basketball courts that feature an NBA three-point line. However, most leagues around the world do have adopted rules allowing for three-pointers. In fact, many college campuses have made their own three-point lines during NCAA tournament games where unlimited three-pointers are allowed.
In the NBA, only 70 arenas currently offer three-point shots, which makes it extremely rare. The NBA introduced three-point shots in 1979-80 at the old Boston Garden when they made them legal across the league. Before then, there was no limit on how far back a player could shoot from the court or area designated as the foul line.
Even though the three-point shot is very popular in other sports, it is not used much in the NBA. This is because even though it increases your chances of scoring by giving you more opportunities, it also reduces your team's chance of winning. If you make too many three-pointers, it will hurt your defense and help your offense, which is not good for winning games.
The average NBA player only takes about three three-pointers per game. So, it is important to understand that going after long distance shots is risky business.
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