Teams attempted 3 threes per game in 1980. Now it's 35+. The three-point revolution didn't happen immediately — it took Curry and analytics to fully unlock it. In 2024, more threes were attempted than two-point jumpers for the first time ever.
Before 2001, you couldn't play zone defense. This meant dominant big men (Shaq) were nearly unstoppable in 1-on-1. Legalizing zone defense opened up spacing, which eventually led to small-ball, which led to the three-point revolution.
Harden averaged 11.8 FTA in 2019. After the rule change: 7.1. The NBA stopped rewarding players for throwing their arms into defenders. Free throw attempts dropped league-wide by 8%. Games became more watchable overnight.
A hard ceiling on spending that penalizes luxury-tax teams. Can't trade first-round picks, can't sign players via sign-and-trade, limited mid-level exception. It's the NBA's version of a salary cap — without calling it one. The Warriors were the first casualty.