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Picture going to a basketball game and not seeing shooters camped behind the arc waiting to fire away. No Steph Curry pulling up for 30-footers. No high school teams that spread the floor with shooters, only scoring midrange jumpers, twos, and layups. Sounds almost unimaginable, right? But basketball existed for almost 40 years without the three-point line, and the game today would be drastically different if it had never been introduced.
The 3-point line was introduced in the NBA in 1979, but it would take decades for it to become a prominent feature everywhere in the game. Now it strangles all forms of basketball. Teams build offenses centered around it, and players work specifically to extend their range. But if it never existed, basketball strategy would be revolutionized.
First scoring would return to the paint. The big men would once more control the court. Power forwards and centers would be the stars, not shooting guards who spread the defense from the perimeter. Think about how Shaquille O’Neal was during the early 2000s. Without the three, players such as him would still be the role models for success. Guards would be too busy with midrange jumpers and drives to the rim instead of spreading defense with outside shooting.
Second, the pace of the game would slow. The arc creates opportunities for runs that can turn momentum on a dime. A nine-point advantage is not safe in today’s NBA because three rapid treys can erase it in seconds. Without the arc, comebacks would be more difficult, and teams would struggle through possessions. The excitement of “splash plays” would be lost, and fans might not enjoy lower-scoring games.
Third, how the players train would be completely different. Kids would not be shooting from the arc for hours after practice. Instead, they would work on finishing at the rim, post moves, or mastering the midrange. The gym culture would shift, and the “shooter” we see today might never have existed. But the biggest change would be recalling some players. Would Steph Curry still be the best shooter of all time if his shots were just worth two? Would Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, or Klay Thompson have the same impact? On the other hand, icons like Kareem Abdul- Jabbar or Tim Duncan would be loved even more since their interior game was unmatched.
The three-pointer has made basketball a quicker, more explosive sport. Without it, the sport would probably be more retro, still competitive, just not as thrilling. Some complain that it created a “soft” game by pulling players away from the basket, while others claim its enhanced basketball made it more thrilling and up-to-date. Whatever the case, the three-point line is not going anywhere.
