The NBA’s Obsession with Three-Pointers is Ruining the Game

Over the past decade, the NBA has seen a dramatic shift in gameplay, driven by an increasing reliance on the three-point shot. While the strategy has redefined the league, it also brings concerns that this obsession is changing the very nature of basketball, making it less dynamic and diverse.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, on the right, prepares to shoot over Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter during the first half of Game 4 in their NBA Western Conference semifinals matchup on Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

The Three-Point Explosion

The numbers speak for themselves: in the 2010-2011 season, teams averaged around 18.0 three-point attempts per game. Fast forward to the 2022-2023 season, and that average has skyrocketed to over 35.2 attempts per game, with teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets often shooting even more. This surge is largely driven by the analytics revolution, which highlights the three-pointer's efficiency compared to mid-range shots.

Big Men Behind the Arc

One of the most noticeable effects of this trend is how traditional big men—power forwards and centers—are now stepping out to shoot threes. Karl-Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves' 6'11" center, won the 2022 NBA Three-Point Contest, a clear sign of this shift. Towns averaged 7.4 three-point attempts per game during the 2021-2022 season, a far cry from the traditional role of a center who once dominated the paint. Even established big men like Brook Lopez and Joel Embiid have adapted their games to include consistent three-point shooting, each attempting over 4.0 threes per game last season.

Karl Anthony Towns winning the Three Point Contest at 2022 NBA All Star Weekend (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Is the Game Becoming Predictable?

With the focus on three-pointers, games have become more predictable. Teams are often quick to settle for long-range shots, leading to a less varied offensive approach. In the 2022-2023 season, three-pointers accounted for more than 40% of all field goal attempts league-wide, compared to just 22% a decade earlier. This reliance on the three-ball has made the game less unpredictable, as teams prioritize shooting over other strategies.

The Decline of the Inside Game

As big men move outside the arc, the inside game is suffering. The NBA used to be a league where dominant centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon ruled the paint. Today, post play is becoming a lost art, with players focusing more on spacing the floor and shooting threes. The average points in the paint per game have decreased from 45.3 in the 2005-2006 season to 43.7 in the 2022-2023 season. This shift not only diminishes the variety of play but also removes some of the strategic depth that once made basketball so compelling.

Is It Time for a Change?

While the three-pointer has its place in the modern NBA, the league's current fixation on it may be leading to a less balanced and exciting game. To preserve basketball's rich history and maintain its appeal, there might be a need to shift the focus back to a more diverse style of play—one that values both inside and outside scoring, and allows big men to dominate in the paint once again.