When Did the NBA Add the Three Point Line?
The three point line has been a part of the NBA for over 40 years, but when did it first appear? We take a look at the history of the three point line in the NBA.
The Three Point Line is Born
On October 12, 1979, the NBA added the three point line to their game. This change increased scoring and made the game more exciting. The three point line has become a staple in basketball and is one of the most popular aspects of the game.
The ABA Adds the Three Point Line
The three point line first appeared in professional basketball in the American Basketball Association (ABA), which was founded in 1967. The ABA was a direct competitor to the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the two leagues would eventually merge in 1976.
The ABA originally used a slightly different three point line than the NBA does today. The line was actually 2 feet shorter, at 22 feet from the hoop, and it was only in place for the last 2 minutes of each quarter. The ABA also used a different ball than the NBA, which had a slightly different size and weight.
The three point line proved to be popular with fans, and helped increase scoring. It also created more opportunities for players who were skilled at long-range shooting. When the ABA and NBA merged, the 3 point line was adopted by the NBA, with some minor adjustments. The current 3 point line is 23 feet 9 inches from the hoop, and it is in place for the entire game.
The NBA Adopts the Three Point Line
On October 12, 1979, the NBA announced that it would adopt the three-point line for the upcoming 1979-80 season. The league had been experimenting with the rule for several years. In fact, the ABA had used a three-point line as early as 1967. But it took until the late 1970s for NBA teams to warm up to the idea of adding a three-point line to their game.
The three-point line became an instant success. In the 1979-80 season, there were 773 three-pointers attempted and only 271 were made (a 35 percent success rate). But by the 1988-89 season, that number had jumped to 5,351 attempted and 1,864 made (a 35 percent success rate). The three-point shot has become an integral part of basketball at all levels.
The Three Point Line Changes the NBA
The three point line is a change that was made to the game of basketball in order to make it more exciting. This change was made in the 1979-1980 season. It made the game of basketball more widely known and helped the NBA become the popular league that it is today.
The Three Point Line Spreads the Floor
The three point line didn’t just change the NBA, it changed the game of basketball. When the shot was implemented, it allowed for more space on the court and forced players to spread the floor. This created a more open style of play and generated more scoring opportunities.
In today’s game, the three point line is a integral part of most team’s gameplan. Many teams will build their offense around shooting threes, and some teams will even intentionally miss shots so they can get the rebound and start a fast break. The three point line has truly changed the way basketball is played.
The Three Point Line Encourages More Shooting
The three point line was introduced to the NBA in 1979, and it has changed the way that basketball is played. The three point line encourages more shooting, and it also opens up the game for players who are not as tall as some of the other players.
The three point line has also changed the way that teams are built. In the past, teams would often have one or two players who were tall and could shoot well from long range. Now, teams often have several players who can shoot well from long range. This has made the game more exciting to watch, and it has also made it more difficult for teams to defend against.
The Three Point Line Today
The three point line was first added to the NBA in the 1979-80 season. At that time, it was 22 feet in the corners and 23 feet, 9 inches elsewhere. The line was moved in the 1994-95 season to a uniform distance of 22 feet all the way around the perimeter.
The Three Point Line is Here to Stay
The three point line has become a fixture in the NBA, and it’s here to stay. The league has experimented with the distance of the line, but it has always been a part of the game.
The three point line was first introduced in the 1970-71 season. The distance of the line was originally 22 feet (6.7 meters) from the basket, but it was shortened to 21 feet (6.4 meters) in the 1974-75 season. In the 1986-87 season, the league moved the line back to its original distance of 22 feet (6.7 meters).
The three point line has been a part of the NBA since its inception, and it’s here to stay. The league has experimented with the distance of the line, but it has always been a part of the game.
The Three Point Line is Constantly Evolving
While the three point line has been a part of basketball for a while, it is constantly evolving. The first three point line was introduced in the ABA in 1967. This line was 22 feet in the corners and 23 feet, 9 inches elsewhere. This experiment didn’t last long, as the ABA only used it for one season before getting rid of it.
The NBA brought back the three point line in 1979, but it was shorter than the ABA’s version. It was 22 feet in the corners and 21 feet everywhere else. In 1986, they moved the line back to its original distance from 1967. In 1997, they shortened the distance of the line again to 23 feet, 9 inches in all areas except for the corners which remained at 22 feet. The most recent change came in 2014 when they extended the line by a foot to 22 feet in the corners and 24 feet, 9 inches everywhere else.
