In the age of social media, they say content is king. Netizens are thirsty for information on anything over the internet and creators are always up to the task in making the most relevant even the most irrelevant ones for content nowadays. How many times in the most recent memory did we see a rags-to-riches story out of producing content on the internet? Content has played a difference in changing the lives of those who have capitalized on its relevance, popularity and most of all, the money that it makes.
In basketball, the three-point shot, like content for the internet, has revolutionized not only how the game is coached, skills are trained, talents are selected and how the game is played. Most credit this evolution and revolution to Stephen Curry, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) record holder for the most three point shots made in history and arguably, the best shooter in the game’s history.
The three-point revolution altered the skill set of players. It broke the age-old stereotyping in putting players in the box of their perceived positions. Back in the day, only backcourt players (point guards and shooting guards) excelled in being shooters from beyond the arc. When Dirk Nowitzki entered the NBA in 1998, it was awkward during that era for a 7-foot player to shoot threes. Only the revolutionary Coach Don Nelson who was already employing a system similar to what the present-day Golden State Warriors is using took the gamble on Nowitzki. Such a move proved to be game-changing and Nelson was two decades advanced in employing a system of position-less, high-octane, and high-scoring type of basketball. Now, with the advent of this evolution and revolution, big men (Power Forwards and Centers) are not only stereotyped to only operate inside the paint. In today’s game, these bigs must possess a good shooting touch which stretches from way beyond. Just take the case of this year’s winner of the NBA’s three-point contest, Karl Anthony-Towns. Analysts are starting to call him one of the best shooting big men in history (with Nowitzki as arguably the greatest). In the past, the height and heft of Karl Anthony-Towns will limit him to just scoring inside the paint, rebounding, or blocking.
That is why this revolution and evolution also altered how players’ skills are trained and developed. Charles Barkley, one of the game’s great players noted that in today’s game, there are too many bums (referring to players who cannot shoot) who are shooting threes. He is correct on that part because some players who are not really shooters are so enamored in shooting from way beyond the arc. That is why shooting and skills coaches providing services to players who would want to improve their three-point shooting touch are most valuable. Players hiring such coaches are like taking up a master’s degree to further their craft, to widen what they can offer to their respective teams, and to save their careers by reinventing themselves. Isaac Go is one of the best examples of this player evolution to cope with how the game is played today. When he was in high school playing for the Xavier School Stallions, he was limited to being a beanpole in the middle because of height. But fast forward to 2017, he has evolved into an all-around offensive weapon for the Blue Eagles of Ateneo under Coach Tab Baldwin. His three-pointer in Game 3 of the finals against De La Salle University with under 30 seconds left sealed the deal and won for the Blue Eagles their first of three championships (2018 and 2019).
That is why we go to our last point, that the three-point evolution and revolution has affected how talents are selected in today’s game. Today, a full-packaged player must possess a good shooting hand from way beyond the arc for him or her to go places. Take the case of our imports plying their trade in Japan like Dwight Ramos, the Ravena Brothers Keifer and Thirdy, and Kobe Paras, among others. Each one of them has good three-point shooting in the bag. Even the 7-2 Kai Sotto who plays in Australia’s National Basketball League has been shooting a three or two.
This is why we say that the three-point shot is now King. The game has changed in many aspects because of it and this change has caused more good than damage. Some critics noted that this revolution has destroyed the beauty of the game but this writer begs to disagree. This has helped players to upgrade their skills and reinvent themselves to help the cause of their teams, entertain the fans, earn for their families, and create a different type of how basketball is played. It’s one that is well-thought-out in terms of planning and coaching, skills training, and talent selection. It is a change that all stakeholders must embrace to further adapt to the direction to where basketball is now going – beyond the arc.