NBA legend Isiah Thomas criticizes the league’s reliance on 3-pointers, arguing it leads to more misses than makes, affecting the game’s appeal. He suggests setting limits on attempts, believing structured play made basketball more entertaining in previous eras.
A large number of basketball fans are increasingly criticizing the number of 3point attempts during NBA games. It is pointed out that the game is played less through set pieces and that basketball has been reduced to bringing the ball up and reaching the 3-point line, where players can shoot the ball.
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Position: PG
Age: 63
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Birth place: United States of America
The Boston Celtics lead the league in that area with an average of 48.3 3-point shots per game. They make an average of 17.9 (37%). The team that uses the 3-point threat less than anyone else in the league is Denver, as the Nuggets players accummulate 31.8 3-point attempts per game and make an average of 12.2 of them (38.2%).
Former NBA player, coach, and now analyst Isaiah Thomas clearly dislikes the affinity for 3-point shots.
"There's one thing I'd like to change about the NBA," he told the 'Come and talk 2 me' podcast.
Thomas, a HOF member, spent his entire career (1981-1994) playing for the Detroit Pistons, where he won two championships. Listed among the 50 greatest NBA players of all time, Thomas played almost 1,000 games, averaging 19.2 points and 9.3 assists.
"Everyone talks about the 3-point shot," he noted.
"All the players today get to the 3-point line with the ball and shoot. The NBA is a shooting league, and we miss more than we make. That's not good," Thomas said, adding that the common notion is that three points are worth more than two.
"That's true," he said. "But when you watch professionals, you want to see how they shoot the ball, not how they miss. And that's what happens in our game. There are more misses than hits and that affects the look of the game," he continued.
"I would set a minimum and maximum of 3-point attempts per game. Maximum around 25-30, minimum around 10-15. Coaches would decide when to shoot. I would seriously consider that. The league used to be more interesting."
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