
Itās wild to say out loud, but itās the reality of todayās NBA: teams are often more efficient from three-point range than they are from inside the arc. And no, this isnāt a glitch in the matrix or a random hot streakāitās the product of how the game has evolved. We really live in a world where pulling up from 28 feet is sometimes a better shot than a contested 10-footer in the paint. Dawg⦠what even is basketball anymore?
The Math Is Mathin’ š
Letās start with the numbers. A made three-pointer is worth 50% more than a made two. Thatās not breaking newsābut the revolution happened when teams realized that you donāt need to be Steph Curry to make the math work. If you hit just 35% of your threes, thatās the same point-per-shot as hitting 52.5% of your twos.
Now look around the leagueāhow many teams do you see that have multiple players shooting over 37% from three? Itās a lot. And thatās not by accident. Coaches and front offices are building around this math. Layups and threesāthatās the formula. Midrange? Thatās only reserved for the elite shot-makers like KD, Kawhi, DeMar, or Book. Everyone else is spacing the floor and letting it fly.
Positionless Players, Endless Range
The other piece of the puzzle is how versatile and skilled todayās players are. Centers are shooting threes. Forwards are bringing the ball up. Guards are launching from the logo. Defenses are stretched thin trying to cover five shooters on the floor, and when a teamās ball movement is on point, even decent defenses can’t keep up.
Youāve got teams like the Celtics, Thunder, and Pacers who consistently put up more threes than twos in a gameāand theyāre winning. The Bucks, Nuggets, and Timberwolves are loaded with guys who can knock down triples from multiple spots. What used to be a bonus in an offense is now the foundation.

Whereās the Rim Pressure?!
Now donāt get it twistedāattacking the basket still matters. Getting to the line, collapsing the defense, and drawing help are essential parts of modern offense. But whatās crazy is how many teams use that inside pressure just to kick the ball back out to the perimeter. The goal isnāt even to score at the rim half the timeāitās to generate a clean three.
Itās led to some head-scratching moments: wide-open layups passed up for a corner three, fast breaks that end with a deep pull-up instead of an easy dunk. The old heads hate it. The purists cringe. But the analytics? The analytics are grinning ear to ear.
So⦠Is This the New Normal?
Absolutely. This isnāt a phase. The league is only getting more three-heavy. Kids growing up now are practicing stepbacks and deep threes way before they learn post moves. Coaches at every level are preaching floor spacing and shooting volume. Weāve officially crossed over.
Bottom line: Itās a new era. Threes are king. And yes, we really live in a world where a 27-foot jumper might just be the best shot on the floor.
Welcome to the timeline, dawg. šš