2025-11-12 13:00

I remember watching Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals when Kyrie Irving hit that iconic three-pointer over Steph Curry, and thinking how much the game had transformed since my childhood. The three-point shot has completely revolutionized modern basketball in ways we couldn't have imagined even a decade ago. Teams are now attempting over 40 three-pointers per game on average, compared to just about 13 attempts per game back in the 2000-2001 season. This statistical explosion isn't just a trend—it's fundamentally changing how the game is played, coached, and even how players are developed.

When we talk about the three-point revolution, we have to start with the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry specifically. I've been following Curry's career since his Davidson days, and what he's accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. He didn't just break records—he shattered our understanding of what's possible from beyond the arc. The numbers speak for themselves: Curry holds the record for most three-pointers in a season with 402, a figure that seemed absolutely impossible before he came along. What's fascinating to me is how his success created a ripple effect across the entire league. Suddenly, every team needed their version of Steph, and big men who couldn't shoot threes saw their value plummet.

This brings me to an interesting contrast I observed recently in the PBA. June Mar Fajardo, playing through calf tightness in Game 2, logged 17 minutes and 39 seconds while contributing only two points and seven rebounds. Watching traditional big men like Fajardo navigate this three-point heavy era reminds me of how basketball roles have evolved. While the NBA has moved toward positionless basketball where everyone needs shooting range, other leagues still feature these traditional centers who dominate through size and post presence rather than perimeter shooting. Personally, I miss watching skilled big men operate in the post, but I can't deny the excitement that comes from watching teams like the Warriors or Mavericks space the floor with five shooters.

The analytics behind the three-point boom are equally compelling. I've spent countless hours studying shot charts and efficiency metrics, and the math is undeniable. A three-pointer is simply more valuable than a two-pointer—it's basic arithmetic. A team shooting 35% from three-point range scores 105 points per 100 possessions, while they'd need to shoot 52.5% from two-point range to achieve the same efficiency. This mathematical reality has forced coaches to completely rethink offensive strategies. I remember arguing with traditionalists who claimed the mid-range game was an art form, but honestly, in today's game, that beautiful art form has become an inefficient shot teams actively discourage.

Defensive schemes have had to adapt dramatically too. The old defensive principles I learned playing college basketball are practically obsolete now. We used to focus on protecting the paint first, but today's defenses are stretched to their limits trying to cover the three-point line. The math forces defenders to close out harder on shooters, which opens up driving lanes and creates this fascinating cat-and-mouse game between offense and defense. I've noticed how teams like the Boston Celtics employ switching defenses almost exclusively because traditional schemes simply can't account for the spatial demands of modern offenses.

What often gets overlooked in these discussions is how the three-point revolution has impacted player development. Young players today are specializing as shooters earlier than ever before. I've visited several youth basketball camps recently, and it's remarkable how much emphasis is placed on three-point shooting even for twelve-year-olds. While this specialization produces incredible shooters, I worry we might be losing some of the all-around fundamentals that made players like Kobe Bryant so special. The game feels more specialized now, with players often developing as either shooters or drivers rather than complete offensive threats.

Looking at the international game provides interesting perspectives too. The FIBA three-point line sits at 22 feet 1.7 inches compared to the NBA's 23 feet 9 inches, and this difference creates fascinating strategic variations. Having watched numerous international tournaments, I've noticed how the slightly shorter distance allows for different offensive schemes and puts less emphasis on ultra-specialized shooters. This might explain why players like Fajardo can still dominate in certain leagues while their skillset might be less valued in the modern NBA context.

The financial implications are staggering as well. The market for three-point shooters has exploded, with elite shooters commanding premium contracts regardless of their other skills. I've seen teams pay role players $15-20 million annually primarily for their three-point shooting, something that would have been unthinkable twenty years ago. This economic reality further accelerates the trend, as young players see the financial incentive to develop deep shooting range above all else.

As much as I appreciate the strategic sophistication the three-point era has brought, I sometimes miss the physical, inside-out game that dominated the 90s and early 2000s. There are nights when watching teams trade three-pointers feels repetitive, lacking the tactical variety that came with more balanced offensive approaches. Still, I can't deny the sheer excitement of a team getting hot from deep and the dramatic comebacks that three-point shooting enables. The game has become more volatile, more mathematical, and in many ways more entertaining, even if it has lost some of the physical battles I grew up watching.

The three-point record breaking we're witnessing isn't just statistical novelty—it represents a fundamental shift in basketball philosophy that touches every aspect of the game. From how players are developed to how games are coached and even how teams are constructed financially, the long ball has reshaped modern basketball in permanent ways. While traditionalists might yearn for the post-heavy game of previous eras, the genie is out of the bottle. The three-point shot has transformed basketball into a space-oriented, efficiency-driven sport, and there's no going back. As someone who has lived through this transformation, I'm equally nostalgic for the past and excited for where the game is heading.