The 3-pointer, as it is referred to in basketball, is a field-goal attempted from beyond the designated arc on the basketball court. In college it is 22 feet from the basket. (The distance has been changed twice since its conception in the 1986-87 season.) The NBA arc is 23’ 9” from the hoop. (22’ in the corners) Much too easy for the strength and skill level of the pros. It would be a more exciting and interesting game if it was extended to 25 feet. That would also necessitate making the court at least 3 feet wider and 6 feet longer, which I have advocated for 10 years. But that’s a topic for another time.

The average number of 3s taken per game in college has increased 56.9 % in the last FIVE years. In the NBA the average attempts have doubled in the last 15 years. It is ironic that the NBA was hesitant to adapt to the 3-point shot in the beginning. Why have the attempts gone up so much recently? More importantly, what effect has this had on the game? Is the game of basketball better?

I can think of several pros’ how the 3-point shot has “helped” the game. First, it has “opened up” the court and allowed for more individuality. Two, the 3 has given a team that is behind an opportunity to “make-up” a deficit late in the game, the game is never over until it’s over. Says Yogi Berra! Three, “perimeter” players play a bigger role in the outcome of the game. Four, just like the home run in baseball, the 3-pointer brings a lot of excitement to the game. But the biggest reason for the explosion of the 3-pointer has to do with math. The GM for the Rockets, Darryl Morey along with player James Harden and Mike D’Antonio, who coached the Phoenix Suns, used analytics to figure out that a team that makes one-third of their 3’s could score as many points as a team that made 50% of their shots inside the arc. As a former college coach, I found it EASIER to get 3’s than to have my team work hard to find a good 2-point shot. Also, with an “under sized” team, the 3 was a great equalizer. At the high school level, it is easier to get “spot shooters” than athletes that are scorers.

I have played and coached this great game for over 35 years, and I must confess that I was a big proponent of the 3-point shot earlier. So, what has changed? I think the game has gotten stale, there isn’t much variety in styles of play. Based on what I have seen and read, I am not alone. Everyone plays the same; spot up to shoot at the arc, dribble drive and “kick”. The emphasis is on shooting NOT being a “scorer”. I have some concerns about the direction the game is going and the game’s appeal. I think a lot of individual basketball skills have diminished. For example, there is no mid-range game anymore. The players that I admired, like Robertson, West, Jordan, Magic, Baylor, Dr. J, Bird, Nash, Havlicek, and Kobe were not just shooters but scorers. Passing skills and swinging the ball from side-to-side with 4 or 5 guys touching it is rare in today’s game. Center play, with big men playing with their back to the basket is nonexistent in today’s game. I miss seeing the “Skyhook”. There are very few nice, soft shots off the glass that requires more skill and talent than shooting a 3. I mentioned earlier that one of the pros is the open court BUT it is also one of the cons. There is far too much spread the floor and let one guy dribble the ball while 4 or 8 watch, this is perhaps the biggest change that I have seen in the game, and it’s not good. There are five guys on a team, not one or two. Almost every college game I watch someone will dribble the ball for 15-20 seconds and end up shooting a 30 foot “Hail Marry” at the buzzer. Dribbling is to; get somewhere, create a shot, create a passing lane. That’s it!

Finally, I am very concerned that if the officiating doesn’t change it is going to get worse. Why would a player like Ja Morant drive into the lane or take the defense off the bounce if he is going to get “hammered” and there is no foul called. Even bigger players like Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson can’t survive the physical abuse over a season. I don’t blame Edwards for complaining. Why put your body through that?

I still think basketball is the greatest TEAM game going, but too often it doesn’t seem like a team game. Change is good, innovation is good, but all changes are not good. The NBA is a copycat league but everyone playing the same way is hurting the game. I have watched the NBA since its beginning. I think there are some of the greatest players to ever play the game in the league right now. I do miss the Big O, Mr. Logo, Wilt, Elg, Russ, Dr. J, Magic, Shaq, The Dream, Larry Legend, Mr. Skyhook, Air Jordan, Chuck, Kobe, and many others. Their game was about much more than shooting 3’s.