Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
Toronto Raptors
Author of the article:
Associated Press
Associated Press
Tim Reynolds
Published Sep 10, 2025 • 4 minute read
FILE - Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) heaves a shot from half court over Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) as the buzzer sounds in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Dec. 16, 2022.
FILE - Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) heaves a shot from half court over Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) as the buzzer sounds in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Dec. 16, 2022. Photo by Emil Lippe /AP
Article content
NEW YORK — NBA players can now fire up those end-of-quarter heaves from deep without their shooting percentages being adversely affected.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
The league has approved a change in the way statistics on those shots are recorded, which could spur players to take more heaves from very, very deep with hopes of a miracle make. It was finalized at the league’s board of governors meeting on Wednesday.
Article content
Article content
The rule change was tried out at Summer League in Las Vegas back in July, as well as the smaller leagues that month in Utah and California.
For stat-keeping purposes, the NBA will tell teams that any shot taken within the final three seconds of the first three quarters and is launched from at least 36 feet away on any play that starts in the backcourt will count as a team shot attempt — but not an individual one.
Many players have avoided taking the miracle 50-footer or deeper shot at the end of quarters to protect their personal shooting percentages. The “heave rule,” the league hopes, will fix that.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
According to SportRadar, players last season made about 4% of shots taken in the final three seconds of the first three quarters of a game with the 36-foot minimum distance. Based on its tracking data, Golden State’s Stephen Curry made four shots under those criteria last season and Denver’s Nikola Jokic made three.
All-Star decision looming
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday, at the end of the league’s board of governors meeting, that he hopes to have the details on this season’s All-Star Game — one that will have a U.S. vs. the world format — finalized by the start of the regular season.
The AP and other outlets reported on Sept. 3 that the league is closing in on finalizing another new format for this season’s All-Star Game, one where three eight-man teams — two from the U.S. and one composed of international players — would square off in a round-robin tournament.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Having 16 All-Stars from the U.S. and eight from other countries would be in line with the current breakdown of where NBA players are from; the league is about two-thirds American players, one-third international players.
“People have great memories of All-Star games. It’s part of the fabric of this league, the excitement that comes from it and the engagement from our players,” Silver said. “So, we want to fix it.”
The league has been heading in this direction for several months, especially after last season’s All-Star mini-tournament _ untimed games to 40 points, with four teams of eight players each _ was a flop.
Silver has wanted a more competitive All-Star format for years. Nobody has been willing to play much in the way of defense at the game in recent seasons — a 211-186 game in 2024 was the last straw there — so the league tried the tournament plan this past season.
Advertisement 5
Article content
European, domestic expansion
Talks on how to proceed with a new NBA-backed league in Europe, in partnership with FIBA, are continuing, Silver said.
“I think our basketball people now are very engaged in how the competition will work,” Silver said. “Our lawyers are thinking hard on how we can take … a sort of cap-based system and revenue-sharing system with players and how we could apply that in a European framework.”
Silver also said the league’s governors got an update on domestic expansion plans at its meeting that concluded Wednesday. The NBA said in July that it was beginning the process of formally exploring adding to its current 30-team league, though there is no timetable for when that will happen.
Seattle and Las Vegas have long been believed to be major candidates for NBA expansion if the league formally decides to move forward.
Advertisement 6
Article content
NBA Cup semifinal change
The NBA Cup, which has had a Final Four setup for its semifinals and final in Las Vegas — and will again this season _ will be changing in 2026-27.
The league has decided that semifinals will be played at the home arena of the higher-seeded team in each conference starting next season. The final — which doesn’t count on either team’s record _ will be the only game played at a neutral site.
Coach’s challenge adjusted
The board approved a change to coach’s challenges, starting this season.
During review following a challenge of an out-of-bounds violation, the replay center official — not the crew chief — “will determine whether a proximate foul should have been called,” the league said.
The NBA says it will expedite review times.
Last season was the first where referees could determine whether a proximate foul should have been called on certain plays. The change was unanimously recommended by the competition committee and league office.
Read More
[Kawhi Leonard speaks during an L.A. Clippers press conference in 2019.
NBA will not rush judgment in Kawhi Leonard investigation, commissioner Adam Silver says](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/not-rush-judgment-kawhi-leonard-investigation?itm_source=nba&utm_source=read-more)
2. [LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
LeBron James writes op-ed for Chinese state media as NBA aims to rebuild in China](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/lebron-james-writes-chinese-state-media?itm_source=nba&utm_source=read-more)
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments