Michael Jordan names the reason for the big NBA change that sparked the scoring success

“My three-point shooting is something I don’t want to excel at because it affects all phases of my game.“Michael Jordan once said about his three-point game. Still, he managed to block six shots from distance in the first half, and in the first game of the 1992 Finals he shrugged his shoulders at the broadcast table. This ultimate demonstration of skill proved that Its lightness ‘can score from anywhere‘. However, it seemed that his eye-popping 63.6% three-point percentage in the 1996 NBA Finals ironically sparked a rule change that would later help players like Reggie Miller and Steve Kerr revolutionize the game with their preternatural shooting skills, and now a former NBA star has put forward the same narrative.

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas opened up on his new episode of “Gil’s Arena Podcast“about the evolution of three-point shooting in basketball and reveals how Jordan’s first retirement inadvertently influenced the explosion in scoring. “Jordan has retired so they need more scorers so they moved up the roster. They just moved it up when Jordan retired in 1994, when he went to play baseball, they increased it from 24 feet to 22 (feet)… So now everyone could shoot threes because it was terrible.Arenas said during the podcast.

This three-year experiment (1994-1995 to 1996-1997) sparked an unexpected scoring boom that changed the dynamics of the game. Several players benefited from the shortened line. Already an accomplished shooter, Reggie Miller increased his three-point percentage to a career-best 42.7% in 1996-97. Jordan’s teammate Steve Kerr became even more lethal from deep, leading the league in three-pointers in each of the following two seasons, a staggering 52.4% in the 1994-95 season.

The shorter distance proved to be particularly advantageous not only for them, but also for Dennis Scott of the Orlando Magic, who set an NBA record with 267 three-point throws in the 1995/96 season. The forward line-up also included the versatile Glen Rice, who expanded his goal repertoire to become a 3-time All-Star during this shortened period of action.

The attempt to increase the score was initially successful, as 3-point attempts per game increased by 50%. The same was the case with Its lightness even when he returned to the league. Before his first loss, Jordan made just 30.1 percent of 955 3-point attempts. In contrast, after his return in 1995, he hit 40.4 percent on 589 attempts. But the three-point line was ultimately returned to its original state, at 24 feet.

After the 1996–1997 season, the line was reverted to its previous length as the change had actually resulted in a reduction in the average game score. In the three seasons before the new rule went into effect, teams averaged 105.6 points per game. That average dropped to 100.8 in the three seasons the 3-point line was shorter.

Today’s NBA, where teams regularly try to score more than 30 three-pointers per game, owes a debt to this period of experimentation. While Jordan’s impact on basketball is typically measured in championship rings and titles achieved, Arenas’ revelation adds another layer to his legacy. However, did you know what Arenas said about Jordan in a previous episode?

Gilbert Arenas’ take on why Michael Jordan is still relevant

For years there has been a debate about who is the greatest basketball player of all time: LeBron James or Michael Jordan. The standard has been in place for a long time: Jordan with his six NBA championships and his legendary games. But James has done enough with his versatility and longevity to make his point.

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas recently sparked debate among basketball fans by claiming that Michael Jordan’s legacy remains relevant primarily to diminish the achievements of LeBron James. “I think a lot of people were mad at me when I said, “The man Michael Jordan is only relevant today because everyone compares him to LeBron.” You don’t raise an older generation unless someone plays on their legacy, so be it because someone is playing with their inheritance. That’s why Michael Jordan’s name is so relevant, because anything LeBron does today to discredit him must bring up Michael Jordan.“Arenas said on the latest episode of The Underground Lounge Podcast.

Arenas even compared Jordan’s performance in 1992 Dream team is compared to James’ performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “When we talk about the USA, why do we mention the 92 Dream Team? Oh, because Michael Jordan is on the 92 Dream Team. So I want to keep because that’s why his name is so high now, because you’re trying to keep him from LeBron surpassing him, that’s all,” Arenas added during the podcast.

If we look at the stats, James’ averages of 14.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 8.6 APG at the 2024 Paris Olympics are quite similar to Jordan’s in 1992 Dream team Performance in which he averaged 14.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 4.8 APG. Ultimately, deciding who truly is the greatest of all time is a matter of personal opinion and will likely be a topic of debate for many years to come. But it’s a refreshing piece of history to see how the Chicago Bulls icon influenced the sport even when he was out of the league.