When basketball was invented by medical doctor James Naismith in 1891 – to keep American football players active during winter – all baskets were worth two points, regardless of where they were shot from.
Games were dominated by tall players who usually shot from close to the basket.
It was often very crowded near the basket and there were fewer opportunities for smaller players.
This all changed when the 3-point line was introduced.
History of the 3-point line
The 3-point line was temporarily trialled in a few college games and minor professional leagues from the 1940s to the early 1960s, but was seen as more of a gimmick.
It gained more popularity after it was introduced in the American Basketball Association (ABA) (a competitor league to the NBA) during the 1967–68 season.
Jeff Chiu/AP, Andrew Cornaga/AAP, Petros Kardijias/AP
Sports can change dramatically in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, these moments create immediate shockwaves. Other times, it’s not until much later that their impact become obvious. This is part of a rolling series that explores key (and sometimes long forgotten) moments in sports history.
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The ABA wanted to make basketball more interesting and exciting. It viewed the 3-pointer as the equivalent to a home run in baseball and believed it would “give smaller player a chance to score and open up the defence to make the game more enjoyable to fans”.
The ABA merged with the NBA in 1976 but the NBA did not immediately introduce the 3-pointer because many traditional coaches and players were against it.
It was finally introduced for the 1979–80 season, with Chris Ford from the Boston Celtics shooting the first one.
The International Basketball Association (1984) and other national leagues followed this move during the next decade.
It changed basketball, slowly
The 3-point line did not make a big difference straight away.
Players still preferred to shoot from closer to the basket because there was a higher chance of success. Teams did not practise 3-pointers and generally only used them when trying to win a game in the final few seconds.
The San Diego Clippers scored the most 3-pointers for the 1979–80 season, with 177 (2.2 per game). Brian Taylor from the Clippers had the most individual 3-pointers (90).
Times have changed.
During the 2024–25 season the Celtics scored the most 3-pointers: 1,475 (17.8 per game) and every team in the NBA scored more than 900. Some 139 players made 100 or more.
NBA
How 3-pointers became more popular
A few key events contributed to 3-pointers becoming more popular.
The inclusion of a 3-point contest at the NBA All-Star weekend in 1986 made the shot more respected. It helped that the first three were won by popular Celtics All-Star Larry Bird.
From 1994 to 1997 the NBA moved the 3-point line closer to the basket (from 7.24 metres to 6.71m) to encourage more scoring in games.
While it did not improve the trend of lower scores and the line was moved back, teams did start to shoot more threes.
The Steph Curry phenomenon
In the 2010s, the rise of the Golden State Warriors sparked a 3-point revolution.
Led by two-time MVP Steph Curry, the Warriors’ heavy reliance on the 3-pointer helped them make the NBA Finals five years in a row, winning three championships.
Curry, who is more than 10cm shorter than the average NBA player, is credited with changing the game by regularly shooting “deep threes” from way behind the 3-point line. This allowed him more time to shoot over taller players.
It also changed how other teams defend because they have to cover more space to defend him. Consequentially, his teammates enjoy increased scoring opportunities.
Curry is the most successful 3-point shooter in NBA history. Kids now want to “be like Steph”.
WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark has also been influential increasing the popularity of 3-pointers.
The role of analytics
Statistics-focused executives such as Daryl Morey also played a key role in the increasing popularity of 3-pointers.
They realised teams could score more points by shooting 3-pointers, even if they shot a slightly lower percentage.
For example, if a team takes ten 3-point shots and make 40% (four) of them, they will score 12 points (4×3 = 12). This is more than they will score if they take ten 2-point shots and make 50% (five) of them (5×2 = 10).
Under Morey’s leadership, the Houston Rockets became the first NBA team to attempt more 3-pointers than 2-pointers in a season. They did this from 2017 to 2020, when they won three consecutive division titles.
A statistical analysis across ten seasons from 2009–10 to 2018–19 also showed teams that took more 3-point shots had a higher probability of winning.
This rise in 3-pointers has come almost exclusively at the expense of mid-range shots.
Mid-range shots are shot from outside the paint but inside the 3-point line (roughly 3–7m from the basket).
The percentage of total shots from mid-range has plummeted from 31% in 2010–11 to just 13% a decade later, while shots in the paint (close to the basket) have remained relatively steady.
NBA
The 3-point line has improved the game by adding variety in offence, spreading players out and allowing players of different sizes and skills to be successful.
However, fans, players and commentators are starting to wonder whether there are now too many 3-pointers being shot.
Too much of a good thing?
The increased emphasis on 3-pointers in the NBA has coincided with a decline in viewership. Although these may not be related, it has sparked concerns.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that while game attendance remained strong and fans enjoy the skill on display, he acknowledged some teams’ attacking plays can appear “cookie cutter” as teams mimic each other’s 3-point-heavy tactics.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also stated the 3-point craze made games feel predictable, where “every team is running the same plays”.
Time for a change?
Suggestions from former players, coaches, commentators and spectators include moving the line further back, reducing the space available for shooting 3-pointers from the corner of the court, increasing overall court dimensions, adding a 4-point line or even capping teams’ 3-pointer attempts.
Silver says the league is open to exploring tweaks if they improve the balance between inside and outside play.
There are no plans to change yet, as any rule change will trigger flow-on effects for offence and defence that may not improve the game.
