Did anyone expect a 7'3" big man to be shooting threes 10 years ago? I certainly didn't. The game and its players have changed in many ways, and so have the analytical nerds telling them to shoot more threes.
As crazy and game-changing as it is, I believe it has gone too far, and the story of the newest crowned NBA MVP tells us that it needs to slow down.
The three-point evolution has taken over the NBA
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The modern NBA is seeing basketball in a whole new way. Players are shooting more than ever before, and it has never been more important for a player to be able to shoot. Over the past few years, we have seen nearly every three-point record you can find be broken.
In this year's playoffs, we saw a collection of teams win and lose games off the three-point shot alone. Look no further than the Boston Celtics, who won a championship a year ago because of the three-ball, but now suffered a massive upset for the same reason. And the cause for all of the crazy comebacks we've seen this postseason? Three pointers.
The Spurs have keyed into this new directive, having attempted a franchise-high 3,246 three-pointers in the 2024-25 season. This was led, of course, by the alien Victor Wembanyama. He is such a freak of nature and so heavily discussed because he is able to shoot at his absurd size. And he has not been afraid of taking these shots.
However, as the number of three-pointers has reached its climax, it may be time to reanalyze how it affects winning.
The Spurs shouldn't go overboard
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While overloading on three-pointers is fun and can get you out of a deep hole, it is not an effective way to win a championship. Unless you can maintain amazing efficiency for an entire playoff run, it is not in a team's best interest to huck long balls all game.
It is getting to a point where every team wants to do that, and if the Spurs continue to follow suit, they will be limiting their potential as a championship team. In particular, the Spurs' number one option, Wembanyama, needs to tone it down.
There is not better example of what this can do for a player than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, or SGA, has certainly learned how to shoot from deep, but his bread and butter comes from inside the line. SGA has piled up insane scoring numbers while not relying on the three-ball. He has continuously taken over games by simply attacking the paint and hunting his go-to mid-range shot. He will only look for a three if it is given to him.
On the other hand, this season, we witnessed Wembanyama take a load of contested three-point looks and settle for threes when he could be dominating inside. Especially for him, he has the ability to embarrass people in the paint, but he so often chooses to step outside the line.
Attempting 8.8 threes per game in the 2024-25 season, Wembanyama has limited his scoring potential. If he wants to be a [30-point-per-game scorer and a perennial MVP](https://airalamo.com/nba-history-wembanyama-break-loose-year-three) candidate like we know he can be, he must stop shooting so many threes.
We have seen him dominate defenders and know that he is capable of being an unstoppable force inside. But instead, he will end up shooting over 10 threes in a game. If he can't convert those looks, he is leaving a ton of points on the table, and for a Spurs team that won't be overbearing otherwise, these extra points are so valuable.
Seeing that SGA can win an MVP without a three-ball tells me that Wembanyama can do the same if he learns to use his height and attack the paint more often. It led SGA's team to nearly 70 wins this season; there is no reason Wembanyama can't elevate his team to this height with efficient scoring.
No one will judge him for shooting fewer threes, and no one will tell him that he is making the wrong choice. If it leads to wins, everybody will be happy.
The Spurs can't give in to the three-point hype. Take notes from the [potential dynasty that is brewing](https://airalamo.com/spurs-championship-hopes-repetitive-roadblock-crush) in Oklahoma City and hone in on doing what works, not what everybody else wants to do. Wembanyama has everything you want out of an MVP, but if he keeps chucking threes and avoiding the paint, he will never reach his highest potential.