Once upon a time, the three-point line was viewed as a gimmick, a novelty copied from the ABA which added little to the real flow of the game. It was infrequently used in the 1980s. Coaches urged players to beef up and get physical in the paint, drawing contact and getting high-percentage shots near the basket. Nowadays, things have changed, and the three-point shot is the focus of every NBA offense. But that transformation didn’t happen overnight.
The evolution of the three point line is a combination of strategic planning, data, and a lot of risk taking. It is one of the most excellent examples of how the game adapts when players and coaches change their approach with the backing of numbers and innovation. From barely being emphasized to revolutionizing the sport itself, the three point shot has altered how basketball is played, coached, and even viewed.
A Slow Burn: The Early Years of the Three
The amount of three pointers taken from the NBA had little to no value after the NBA incorporated the three point line in 1979. There were hardly any players willing to use it until Larry Bird came around. He averaged under two threes a game during his prime. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan also didn’t care much about the three pointer, unlike some legends do today.
During the 80’s and 90’s, the average number of attempts taken per season by all teams sat below five, with ranged shooting being purely mid-game territory. As far as reasoning and logic are concerned, the further away you are from the basket, the lower your chances of scoring will be. Post moves were prioritized by coaches, and midrange shooting was deemed more rational. Three pointers were only shot during geeks and specialized shots that required some degree of skill when time was running out.
That all began to change in the late 90’s when teams started experimenting. The use of three pointers at the right time by Reggie Miller and Glen Rice proved momentum could shift, in addition to being able to use them strategically throughout the game. Coaches started realizing the need of them for spacing, wishing strategic placement of a good shooter on the court.
The Analytics Era and the Deep Ball Explosion
In the 2010s, everything shifted with the advancement of basketball analytics technology. Statisticians made a somewhat absurd but innovative: three-point shots, even though they were less precise than mid-range shots, held more value on a per-attempt basis – a player’s efficiency rating would increase if he took more three – point shots instead of mid-range ones. In essence, a player with a 35% success rate from behind the arc would be more statistically effective than a shooter with a 50% success rate from mid-range. This theory was the starting point of a different approach to offense.
“Teams Like the Houston Rockets” were quick to take advantage of this. Under GM Daryl Morey, the Rockets famously avoided mid-range shots, opting instead for layups and three pointers. The team single-handedly changed the mid-range game. Houston’s threes per game attempted reached a staggering 45 attempts by the year 2018, a mark that was usually considered impossible a decade prior.
Fans tracking the sport through online cricket betting apps or fantasy leagues also noticed how the game changed. Suddenly, role players who could hit from beyond the arc — even if they didn’t offer much else — became valuable assets. The stat sheet was now telling a different story, and teams were listening.
The Warriors, Steph Curry, and the New Normal
Though analytics set the stage, it was Stephen ‘Steph’ Curry who single-handedly spearheaded the three-point revolution in modern-day basketball. He can easily sink long-range, off-the-dribble, and deep shots under immense pressure. This ability changed the game forever. Defenses morphed.
Curry’s ability to extend his range beyond the arc meant that opponents could no longer sag off or break below screens. The Golden State Warriors built their dynasty around this philosophy. They had Klay Thompson and Draymond Green complimenting Curry. Together, they created an offense centered on acute ball movement and high-volume threes which earned them; Championships, MVPs, and Decades later led to a global transformation in the way kids picked up the game.
As of 2023, every team has adopted such a strategy. Now, centers routinely practice corner threes while power forwards pull up from the top of the key. Even transition plays that used to end in fast-break dunking, now end with pull-up threes.
Beyond the NBA: Cultural and Global Impact
The increasing use of the three-point shot is not only a cultural phenomenon; it is also a tactical and statistical narrative. Children can now be heard on the streets shouting, “Curry!” as they make attempts from beyond the three-point arc. International leagues have also changed their approach by adopting a more perimeter-oriented style of play.
Accounts like MelBet Instagram BD highlight reels and fan videos from all angles where long-range shooting steals the spotlight, emphasizing how it’s transcended borders from Manila to Madrid. The three-point shot has undoubtedly transformed into basketball’s unifying essence – thrilling, easy to grasp, and full of intensity.
Soaring social media use and content streaming has fueled this tendency even more. The likelihood of a long-range buzzer beater going viral surpasses that of a dunk. Unlike vertical leap or height, which are difficult to train for, shooting is deemed a skill celebrated. It’s not a surprise that footwork, balance, and release speed are now prioritized by trainers over back-to-the-basket maneuvers.
Where Does It Go from Here?
Like every other revolution in sports, leagues have to deal with the consequences of the three point revolution. Some people now say the game is too “one-dimensional” because there are starters are too focused on shooting the ball. Others look at this as a natural change in sports, where a combination of speed and skill creates a less restrictive game.
To combat the change, a lot of coaches have gone back to putting more emphasis on man-to-man and zone defenses to limit perimeter shooting. Others think the next big thing in basketball may be a 4 point line. It may seem insane right now, but if we continue on the same path, who knows?
One thing is for certain, though. We no longer look at the three point shot as an optional tactic. It has practically integrated itself into the identity of the NBA. From engineering to the poetry of basketball, the way we think about the sport needs to change like it did four decades ago. It is undisputed the change is only going to get bigger from here on out.
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