The NBA is in the golden era of outside shooting.
More players are capable of shooting 3-point field goals and making them at a decent percentage than ever. The league was moving in this direction even before the Golden State Warriors, led by the “Splash Brothers” tandem of reigning league MVP Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, started smashing 3-point records.
Some people would like to see the 3-point arc moved back, or at least have the NBA consider it. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is in that group.
“I think it’d open it up more so guys with different skill sets could play,” Cuban told Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas. “It would open up play for more drives. Guys with midrange games would be rewarded and that would stay in the game. There would be more diversity of offensive action in the game.
“You’d see a little bit of decline in the 3. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing that we shoot so many 3s, but it’s worth it in the D-League to see what happens (with a deeper 3-point line).”
The NBA currently has a 3-point line arc radius of 23 feet and nine inches, which is the original distance set when the line was introduced for the 1979-80 season. The line was shortened for a three-year period from 1994-95 through 1996-97 to 22 feet. The result was an all-out barrage from beyond the arc. The Houston Rockets took advantage of it en route to their 1995 NBA Finals win.
Many people don’t like the abundance of 3-point shots in today’s league, and it’s hard to blame them. That said, it would be unwise to overreact and make drastic rule changes because of one player (Curry) or one team (Golden State).
Cuban’s suggestion of the D-League testing a 3-point line pushed further back isn’t a bad idea, though.
Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
