Stephen Curry revolutionized the modern NBA by utilizing the three-point line to its utmost potential. Nowadays, every team in the league wants to have quality three-point shooters on their respective rosters.
But how was the three-point line perceived when it was first added to the NBA in 1979? NBA legend Jerry West, who was the general manager of the Lakers in 1979, recently shared his views on the addition of the three-point line to the league.
“Obviously, that would have helped me a lot. I could make shots,” West told Paul George in a recent episode of Podcast P. “It was kind of interesting because once you develop certain skills, you’re going to test those skills even if there’s no reward for it. You’re still going to go out there because it gets easier to shoot the ball, and now there’s rewards.”
West then talked about the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry.
“Steph Curry, he won’t be here forever,” he added. “It’ll be somebody that comes along that will shoot the ball like him. There will be. Because these kids are going to be watching him. They’re going to be watching you.”
West concluded by saying, “I just think it’s an ever-changing sport.”
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In the 1979-80 season, when the three-point line was introduced, Fred Brown of the Seattle Supersonics led the league in three-point percentage with 44.3%. He only attempted 88 three-point shots throughout the season.
The league leader in attempts was the San Diego Clippers’ Brian Taylor, with 239 three-point field goals attempted. Fast forward to the 2022-23 NBA season, Klay Thompson led the league with 731 three-point attempts and made 301 out of them.
All things considered, it took the league some time in getting adjusted to the new addition. Evidently, it won’t be long before the NBA tries out the four-point line. In fact, the Houston Rockets have introduced it on their practice court.
Jerry West Thinks Today’s NBA Is Soft
Jerry West is undeniably one of the biggest stars to play in NBA history. The Logo averaged 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 6.7 APG during his career.
Playing majorly during the 1960s, West recently revealed he believes today’s NBA is soft. He blames the sheer volume of three-pointers by the players for it.
“I’d rather see somebody make a beautiful pass, go in, and lay it up instead of four on-one, some guy runs behind the three-point line and shoots a three,” West said. “The game is soft that way today. I don’t like it. I don’t think it makes for pretty basketball. And I think, unless you have a great, great team late in the game, you’re going to lose games, you’re taking points off the board.”
The game was way different when West was active in the NBA. It’s only natural for him to feel this way about how the game is played today.
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