The NBA is implementing a new rule aimed at revitalizing thrilling long-range shots at the conclusion of quarters, or at minimum, encouraging players to attempt them more often. According to a report from Shams Charania of ESPN, the league will now categorize missed “heaves” taken in the final moments of the first three quarters as collective team field goal attempts, rather than penalizing the individual player with a personal miss.
This strategic alteration, designed to enhance the spectacle of games, underwent testing by the NBA during its Summer League.
Defining a “Heave”
So, what exactly qualifies as a “heave” that will no longer impact an individual player`s shooting statistics? NBA Communications has established precise criteria for these specific plays:
- The missed field goal attempt must have occurred within the final three seconds of the first three periods of a game.
- The shot must have been launched from beyond the outer edge of the extended center circle, which is approximately 36 feet from the basket.
- The entire play must have originated in the backcourt.
Impact on Player Strategy and Game Flow
Last season, Nikola Jokić was notable for attempting 25 such shots that met at least the first two criteria, successfully converting three of them. For Jokić, who typically shows little concern for individual statistics, the slim chance of scoring three points always seemed to justify a marginal decrease in his shooting percentage. Furthermore, he often appears to genuinely enjoy launching the ball from such extreme distances.
Mikal Bridges was the second most frequent taker of these shots last year, with 13 attempts, representing just over half of Jokić`s total.
Overall, NBA players collectively attempted 640 shots last season that fulfilled the first two specified criteria. Only 25 of these attempts found the net, resulting in a low field goal percentage of just 3.9%. This low success rate often led many players to opt for simply dribbling out the clock or holding onto the ball, frequently waiting until the buzzer had already sounded before releasing a shot, purely to avoid damaging their personal shooting efficiency.
However, with this new rule change, there is considerable optimism that we will witness an increase in these exciting “heaves” – and hopefully, a greater number of successful attempts – from various positions across the court, adding more high-stakes, dramatic moments to NBA games.
