The World Conforms to the NBA

. 25 August 2008

FIBA recently announced three big changes in international basketball, that will make it look a lot more like the money/power hungry NBA.

  1. 3pt line will be 22 ft. 1.7 in. (currently the line is 20ft. 6in. The NBA 3 is 23 ft. 9in.)
  2. The key will be a rectangle (currently the key is trapezoidal. The NBA key is rectangular)
  3. There will be a no-charge circle underneath the basket (currently there is no such thing. This exists in the NBA)
So all that arguing between ATA editors about how certain NBA players fit the nuances of the international game will be moot come the 2012 Olympics. Personally, I like the trapezoidal key. But I very much support the other two rule changes.

The players are simply to big to have the three point line at 20.5 ft. And the no-charge cicle should promote more athletic and exciting fast-break plays. Thoughts??