Review of the five ultimate winning numbers: the new regulations encourage buzzer-beating and long shooting, which may give birth to more magical moments

Translator's note: The original text was published in The Athletic. The data in the article were as of the time of the original text (September 13 local time). The dates and times involved are local time

Whether you like it or not, the NBA is implementing a new rule on long-distance shooting at the end of the festival.

During this week's NBA board meeting, President Adam Xiao announced that the league has approved a new rule to relax statistical restrictions on ultra-long-distance shooting attempts at the end of the quarter. The change took effect on Wednesday. The adjustment was tested in July in the summer league in Las Vegas and in the G League games in Utah and California before the NBA officially adopted it. What is the macro reason for

to make such a change? This is to motivate players to try more buzzer-beating and ultra-long shots in the first three quarters of the game, without worrying about the decline in the basket percentage. In the last three seconds of these quarters, any attacks that are at least 36 feet (about 11 meters) away and any attacks launched from the backcourt will be recorded as team attacks, not individual attacks.

Since its announcement, traditional basketball fans have responded relatively negatively to the new rule. Still, that's not a big deal, as one of the most exciting scenes in the game could surge as a result. Fans love super long three-pointers, and the change in the rule - even if it keeps some players from being hindered about their own data - the problem it solves is not a real big problem from a macro perspective compared to other recent adjustments in the league.

If you say that the All-Star Game system has become unnecessary complicated, I will agree with you. Will the

playback system and related punishment appear arbitrary? We feel the same way.

Do you want the league to lift its 20-year "hand-checking ban"? Me too!

However, given what could happen over the remaining 47 minutes of a game, the NBA provides players with space to try shooting from a distance without being punished by the stats. According to Basketball Reference, under the league's definition of ultra-long shooting, 91 players have hit such shots since the 2020-21 season (including the playoffs).

In addition, this adjustment does not require players to try to shoot too long shots at the end of the quarter. It just gives the team more flexibility in this attempt. Players who usually don't try particularly far-range buzzer-beating shots—such as stars like Jaylen Brunson (7 times), Kawhi Leonard (4 times) and Kevin Durant (2 times), who are notoriously conservative in their ultra-long shooting over the past five seasons—still reserve the right to pass the ball to teammates or dribble to run out of time, even if that continues to annoy those who don't like this cautious behavior of stats.

Besides, these three players are just one of the small number of well-known players who are unwilling to shoot extremely long-distance shots for the entertainment of fans (or to narrow the gap in the game to win the game).

The players with the most buzzer-beating ultra-long shots since the 2020-21 season:

Nicola Jokic, 4 of 57, Fred VanVreett, 3 of 53, Stephen Curry, 7 of 51, Teres Halliburton, 2 of 48, Luca Doncic, 3 of 37

Anthony Edwards, 0

Jordan Poole, 5

Donovan Mitchell, 2

Ju Holiday, 2

Peton Prechard, 2

Conditions: 3 seconds left, more than 36 feet, Source: Basketball Reference

In the above five seasons, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is the most keen player in the league to try this kind of shot, and has tried 57 ultra-long three-pointers since his first season. Other players on the roster — Stephen Curry, Terrys Halliburton, Anthony Edwards and Luca Doncic — are already one of the league’s most spectacular and boldest shooting creators, meaning the league’s adjustment to ultra-long shots can drive an already fairly common trend, especially at the end of the game.

Since the 2020-21 season, there have been five buzzer-beating ultra-long shots to secure the victory, four of which have occurred in the past two seasons. Even for those who don’t like the change, it’s hard to deny the excitement it may bring.

Let's review those five long-distance kills and see what the NBA wants to normalize further:

January 7, 2025: Trae Young, against the Jazz (49 feet, about 14.9 meters)

After Jazz player Colin Sexton made an equalizer goal, Trae Young rushed to the near midfield in less than three seconds without a timeout and hit the farthest shot of his career, bringing victory to the team.

Trey Young ranked fourth in the NBA key player voting of the year last season, with his 152 points in key moments (within five points in the last five minutes of the game), second only to Brunson (157 points) and Anthony Edwards (156 points).

Trae Young's three-pointer was one of the 17 three-pointers he hit at a critical moment, second only to Edwards (21 points) and the well-known long-distance expert Stephen Curry (19 points).

March 27, 2025: Josh Gidey, against the Lakers (47 feet, about 14.3 meters)

Considering that Gidey confidently turned away when the ball drew an arc into the net, his shot was arguably the most impressive goal in the 2024-25 season. This may also be an example worth learning from, showing what the team hopes to avoid under the league's new rules on eligible ultra-long shooting at the end of the quarter.

Please note that after Austin Reeves' layup helped the Lakers take a point lead with 3.3 seconds left in the game, neither he nor Gabe Vincent went to defend Gidey, who sent the ball to Patrick Williams. The Lakers' collective defensive mistakes then provided the Bulls, the newly promoted Mr. Billionaire, with an excellent chance to win. Last season, Giddy struggled with shooting at critical moments (36% of the total shooting percentage), but five of his nine such goals were three-pointers. On the other hand, he is usually the key organizer of the Bulls at the end of the game. According to the NBA official website, he leads the team with 19 assists at critical moments, more than double the second place Kobe White (9 times).

February 27, 2024: Max Struz, against the Mavericks (59 feet, about 18.0 meters)

In a game with 12 equal scores and 25 alternating leads, Max Struz saved the best to the end, which was perfect.

Similar to Giddy's final victory, Struz only needs one dribble to brew a decisive shot so that home fans can enjoy it.

His 15 points in the fourth quarter of this game set the third highest final quarter score in his six-year career. Struz's five 3-pointers are only one away from any Cavaliers player's record of the highest three-point shooting in the fourth quarter/overtime in the past 25 seasons.

Struz's ultra-long shot ended also impressed All-Star teammate Donovan Mitchell.

"Man, seeing that shot, especially considering what he did for us in the fourth quarter, that must be him," Mitchell said. "You would dream of shooting that goal. So, after he did so much for us and played that way throughout the fourth quarter, it was perfect for him to shoot that goal, man."

January 4, 2024: Nicola Jokic, against the Warriors (39 feet, about 11.9 meters)

As mentioned, Jokic is undoubtedly the most casual buzzer-beating super-long shot master in the league. In this game, he performed one of his many all-round masterpieces, scoring 34 points on 13 of 16 shots, plus 10 assists and 2 steals, and is only 1 rebound away from a triple-double.

Nuggets lag behind the Warriors for most of the game, but they managed to bite the score very close, allowing Jokic's super-long shot in the last half to help them take the lead. However, the victory is also attributed to Aaron Gordon, who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, retained hope for the Nuggets to win.

However, once Jokic was ready to finish the game, he shocked Warriors fans with his dribbling, size, coordination and feel.

Since the 2020-21 season, only Curry (6 times) and Jordan Poole (5 times) have made more ultra-long shots than Jokic (4 times during this period).

December 15, 2021: Devent Graham, against the Thunder (61 feet, about 18.6 meters)

In order to end the Thunder against the Pelicans, Graham, as if Jerry West possessed, made a shot of more than 60 feet (about 18.3 meters), setting the farthest winning record in league history. Like Gidey and Struce, Graham only needs one dribble to complete his ultra-long shot. This shot happened after Thunder's Shea Gilgers Alexander equalized with a 30-foot (about 9.1 meters) prayer-like shot from outside, when Graham's teammate Garrett Temple was preparing to foul the former. Graham's shot was shot with about half a second left in the game, providing another powerful example of the exciting scenes that the NBA's rules on ultra-long shooting at the end of the quarter. Even if a large number of people feel that players are cowardly in protecting their shooting percentages – a rare case that seems a bit too much – it is hard to deny the huge potential of encouraging such an already exciting style of play.

Those fans, just like NBA teams in line-ball tactics at the end of the defensive quarter, will have to make adjustments.

Author: James Jackson

Translator: GWayNe