Photo: Len Werle/OpenCourt-Basketball
As reported previously, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to revolutionize the game by officially adopting a four-point shot starting from the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup. This move makes the PBA the first major professional 5×5 basketball league in the world to integrate a four-point field goal into its rules.
This adoption can also be seen as a test run for other international leagues and even the NBA potentially. With this in mind, during Team USA media availability at their London training camp, I had the opportunity to break these news to one of the greatest shooters of all-time, Sabrina Ionescu, and was able to ask her about her thoughts on the four-point line.
“I would…. I didn’t know that. So that’s news to me. That’s pretty cool. I mean, the more we can just continue to evolve the game, it could bring a different level to our game here and who knows… maybe one day.”
The @pbaconnect adapting a four-point line… #SabrinaIonescu wouldn’t mind having one either.
–#TeamUSA #USABasketball pic.twitter.com/842Xvl5NRo— Len Werle (@RealLennyCarlos) July 22, 2024
The four-point shot is not entirely new to basketball enthusiasts. It was first introduced by the Harlem Globetrotters and later adopted by the Big3 basketball league. In these formats, the four-point shot is attempted from a designated area on the court, typically 30 feet away from the basket. The PBA’s version will feature a four-point line stretching 27 feet from the basket, adding a new strategic element to the game.
The introduction of the four-point shot is expected to have a significant impact on how the game is played. Teams will need to adjust their offensive and defensive strategies to account for this new scoring opportunity. Players with exceptional long-range shooting skills will become even more valuable, and coaches will have to rethink their game plans to incorporate the four-point shot effectively.
