When Did the 3-Point Line Start in the NBA?

The three-point line is one of the most iconic aspects of the game of basketball. But when did it first start appearing in the NBA?

Introduction

In the 1979-80 season, the NBA experimented with a 3-point line. The line was 22 feet in the corners and 23 feet, 9 inches elsewhere. The trial lasted just one season, but it was successful enough that the league made the 3-pointer a permanent part of the game the following year.

Today, the 3-point line is 20 feet, 9 inches from the basket at all points around the arc. Players have taken full advantage of this extra space, and the 3-point shot has become an integral part of basketball strategy. In 2018-19, NBA teams averaged 11.7 3-point attempts per game and made 4.1 of them.

The Three-Point Line in Today’s Game

The three-point line was first introduced in the NBA in the 1979-80 season. Prior to that, the league used a shorter line for two-point shots and a longer line for three-point shots. Today, the three-point line is 20 feet, 9 inches from the hoop at the top of the key and 22 feet, 1 inch from the corners.

How the Three-Point Line is Used in Today’s NBA

In today’s NBA, the three-point line is used to keep the game exciting and allow for more offensive opportunities. Three-point shots are worth more than two-point shots, so teams are encouraged to take more three-point shots. This results in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game.

The three-point line was first introduced in the NBA during the 1979-80 season. It was originally 22 feet (6.7 meters) from the basket in the corners, and 23 feet (7 meters) from the basket at the top of the key. The following season, it was shortened to 21 feet (6.4 meters) in the corners, and 22 feet (6.7 meters) at the top of the key.

In 1986, another change was made to how far away players had to be from the basket to shoot a three-pointer. The new rule stated that players had to be 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 meters) from the basket if they were behind the arc, and 22 feet (6.7 meters) if they were in front of it. This rule is still in place today.

Since its inception, the three-point line has been an important part of basketball strategy. Teams often use it to their advantage by Structure their offense around shooting threes, or by stationing their best shooters near the line so they can get open looks at threes. The three-point line has also helped create some of basketball’s biggest stars, like Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant.

The Three-Point Line and Player Positions

The three-point line has been a part of the game of basketball since the 1979-80 season. Prior to that, the league experimented with a couple of different distance for the line, but it wasn’t until the 1980-81 season that the league finally settled on the current distance of 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket.

While the three-point line has been a mainstay in the game for over three decades now, it has had a profound impact on how players are used and how the game is played. In general, players who are good shooters are more valuable than ever before, as they can provide a team with a big advantage if they can knock down shots from behind the arc.

Additionally, the three-point line has also changed the way that teams play defense. In particular, teams will often choose to defend the three-point line differently depending on which player is shooting. For example, if a player like Steph Curry is shooting from behind the arc, most teams will choose to defend him much differently than they would another player.

Overall, the three-point line has had a major impact on both how players are used and how the game is played. It will be interesting to see how it continues to affect the game in years to come.

The History of the Three-Point Line

The three-point line was first introduced in the NBA during the 1979-1980 season. It was originally implemented as a way to open up the game and encourage more scoring. The three-point line has since become a staple of the game, and many players have made a name for themselves by being great three-point shooters.

Early Attempts at a Three-Point Line

The three-point line was not always a part of basketball. In fact, it did not become official until the 1979-1980 season when the NBA adopted it. But that does not mean that the concept of the three-point line was not around for many years prior.

In 1961, Boston Celtics owner Walter Brown proposed the idea of a three-point line to the NBA Competition Committee. It was an attempt to increase scoring and add more excitement to the game. Brown’s proposal was denied and it would be another 18 years before the three-point line became a reality in the NBA.

Inventor and Syracuse Nationals coach Danny Biasone is credited with coming up with the actual distance of the three-point line. Biasone wanted there to be roughly 120 shots attempted per game, so he did some quick math and came up with 22 feet as the distance from the basket.

Interestingly, while Biasone’s distance has remained unchanged, early attempts at a three-point line were much closer to the basket. The ABA experimented with a few different distances before settling on 25 feet in 1967. The NBA would eventually adopt this distance for their own three-point line in 1986, but would change it back to 22 feet in 2014.

The ABA Introduces the Three-Point Line

The three-point line was first introduced to the sport of basketball by the American Basketball Association (ABA) in the 1967-68 season. The ABA was a professional basketball league that competed against the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1967 to 1976. In order to make the game more exciting and score more points, the ABA decided to add a three-point line to their courts.

The three-point line was an instant success, and it wasn’t long before the NBA followed suit. In the 1979-80 season, the NBA added a three-point line to their own courts. Since then, the three-point line has become an integral part of basketball at all levels of the game.

The three-point line has undergone several changes since it was first introduced nearly 50 years ago. The biggest change came in the 1994-95 season when the NBA moved the line back from 23 feet, 9 inches to its current distance of 22 feet. This change made it more difficult for players to score from long range, and as a result, scores dropped across the league.

Despite this change, or perhaps because of it, players have continued to flock to the three-point line in record numbers. In recent years, players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have become superstars by making a living beyond the arc. And with more players shooters than ever before, it’s safe to say that the three-point shot is here to stay.

The NBA Adopts the Three-Point Line

In the summer of 1981, the NBA owners voted to adopt the three-point line for the upcoming 1981-1982 season. The line would be situated 22 feet away from the baskets in the corners, and 23 feet, 9 inches away from the baskets at the top of the key. This was not a sudden change; the three-point line had been tested in exhibition games starting in 1979.

The motivations behind introducing a three-point line were twofold. First, the league hoped that by rewarding players for shots taken from further away, teams would open up their offenses and score more points. Second, with more points being scored, games would become more exciting and TV viewers would tune in more frequently.

The early years of the three-point line were not without controversy. Some purists felt that it created too many long-range jumpers and did not encourage players to drive to the basket as much. There were also criticisms that it led to less physical play, as players were now able to shoot from further away and avoid contact.

Despite these concerns, the three-point line has remained a staple of NBA basketball and has even been adopted by other leagues around the world. Today, it is one of the most popularfeatures of the game, providing an added level of excitement and strategy that keeps fans coming back for more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that the 3-point line has had a significant impact on the game of basketball. It has changed the way players play and has opened up the game to a whole new level of excitement.