Here are a few trivia questions regarding the three point shot
mouse-over the answers to see them.--
Where was the 3-point shot used first as a league-wide rule?
Answer--
the ABA had the rule from it's inception in 1967-68 through it's last season of 1975-76 after which it merged with the NBA.
But the short-lived American Basketball League (ABL) was the first league to adopt it as a rule in 1961. The Eastern Professional Basketball League followed suit in 1963.
When did the 3-point shot become a standard rule for the NBA-
Answer-
prior to the 1979-1980 NBA season. There were 3 seasons after the merger when the NBA did not yet adopt this rule, but then they added it to increase scoring and excitement.
When did the 3-point shot become a standard rule for the NCAA-
Answer--
prior to the 1986-1987 season. They initially adopted a distance of 19'9", but prior to the 2008-2009 season changed it to 20'9".
When did FIBA adopt the 3-point line for International basketball?
Answer--
1984. But their 3-point line was shorter than the NBA's. They adopted a distance of 20'5", but they plan to extend that distance to 22'2" in 2010.
When was the 3-point rule first "tested" in a college game?
Answer--
in an NCAA game between Columbia and Fordham on February 07, 1945.
The Southern Conference was given permission by the NCAA in 1980 to test a 3-point shot. They adopted a 22' line for conference games that season. Several other conferences tested it after that, using various distances, before the NCAA adopted it in 1986.
Who "invented" the three point shot? It was not part of Naismith's original rules of basketball. Here is an article that cites several different people responsible for it's innovation, development, and incorporation into NBA and college rules, but Herman Sayger is generally credited with "inventing" the idea in 1933.--
http://www.interbasket.net/news/278/2008/06/04/the-inventors-of-the-three-point-shot/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_point_line
One more factoid-
The NBA experimented briefly with a shorter 3-point line. For most of it's time in the rules, the 3-point line remained at 23'9". But for 3 seasons, 1994-95 through 1996-97 it was shortened to 22'. It was intended to generate more scoring, but it had the opposite effect. Because it was easier to make the shorter 3-pointer, far more players tried to become 3-point shooters, and many more were attempted. However, the percentage of successful 3-pointers dropped and scoring droipped off significantly because so many players were taking the shot who were not good shooters. It was changed back to 23'9" permanently, prior to the 1996 -97 season
Interestingly, some people give credit to this temporary shortening of the 3-point line for the Bulls' 72-win season. I don't buy it, because although it allowed Jordan and Pippen to become more proficient at the 3-point shot, it had the same effect for every team. So it wouldn't have benefitted just the Bulls. I think that team would likely have won 72 games regardless.
http://pw1.netcom.com/~bjalas/basketball/bulls/3_point_line.htm
However, many of the NBA's 3-point shooting records were set those years with the shorter line, and now some may never be broken.
Highest three-point field-goal percentage, season (qualifiers)
.524-Steve Kerr, Chicago, 1994-95 (89/170)
.5224-Tim Legler, Washington, 1995-96 (128/245)
Most three-point field goals by a player, season
267-Dennis Scott, Orlando, 1995-96
Most consecutive three-point field goals by a player, no misses, season
13-Brent Price, Washington, January 15-January 19, 1996
13 - Terry Mills, Detroit, December 4-December 7, 1996
Most consecutive games, three-point field goals made by a player
89-Dana Barros, Philadelphia, Boston, December 23, 1994-January 10, 1996 (58 games in 1994-95; 31 games in 1995-96)
Most three-point field-goal attempts, season
678-George McCloud, Dallas, 1995-96
Most three-point field goals, rookie, season
158-Kerry Kittles, New Jersey, 1996-97
Highest three-point field-goal percentage by a team, season
.428-Charlotte, 1996-97 (591/1,382
Most three-point field-goal attempts by a team, game
49-Dallas vs. New Jersey, March 5, 1996
Most three-point field-goal attempts by a team, one half
28-Phoenix at New York, January 29, 1995
Most three-point field goals by a team, none missed, game
7-Indiana vs. Atlanta, January 20, 1995
http://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_3ptfg.html
