The NBA introduced the 3-point shot in the 1979-80 season as a way to reward players for making shots from long distance. Before that, all shots counted for two points regardless of how far away from the basket they were taken.
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How to Choose a BasketballBasketball Court Dimensions and Hoop Height: A Quick GuideGuide to Backyard Basketball Court Dimensions | CBA BlogHow Many Yards Are in 30 Feet? [Solved]Since the long-distance shots are more difficult and are made less often, an extra point is given for making shots from beyond the designated 3-point line.
In the NBA, the 3-point line is 23-feet, 9-inches away from the basket, with the exception of the corners, where the line is 22 feet away from the basket.
