ABA 3 PT Line Distance

[LAZERUSS]

Maybe someone here can come up with the answer...

I seem to recall the ABA 3 pt Line distance as peaking at 25 feet, instead of 23' 9".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_field_goal


The three-point rule was first tested at the collegiate level in a 1945 NCAA game between Columbia and Fordham. However, professional basketball was the first to adopt the rule on a permanent basis. At the direction of Abe Saperstein, the American Basketball League did so in 1961, becoming the first basketball league to adopt the rule. Its three-point lines were each a radius of 25 feet (7.62 meters) from the baskets, except along the sides.[2] The Eastern Professional Basketball League followed in its 1963–64 season. The three-point shot later became popularized by the American Basketball Association after its introduction in the 1967–68 season. Then commissioner of the ABA George Mikan stated the three-pointer "would give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans."[3] During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 1979–80 season, the NBA adopted the three-point shot despite the view of many that it was a gimmick.[4]

Can someone here shed some light on this?

[inclinerator]

no.

[L.Kizzle]

Any info on the ABLs distance.

[fpliii]

I have the 69-70 through 75-76 ABA media guides, and all of them mention 23'9" except for the corners.

The shot was actually commonly referred to as a "25 footer", but was really just a standard three-pointer. From Terry Pluto's "Loose Balls":

[QUOTE]GEORGE MIKAN: We called it the home run, because the 3-pointer was exactly that. It brought the fans out of their seats. It was first used by Abe Saperstein in the old ABL, and we adopted the rule and their distances.

The shot was called a 25-footer from the key area, 22 feet from the corners. Later, measuring from the middle of the rim, it was determined that it was 22 feet in the corners, but actually 23 feet, 9 inches from beyond the key. The same distance is used today in the NBA.

ALEX HANNUM: In the NBA , we just clogged up the middle and dared teams to shoot from the outside. Nobody bothered to guard anyone 20 feet from the basket, but the 3-point play really did open up the middle. A guy starts hitting jumpers for three points instead of two and the coach has to change his thinking

[LAZERUSS]

I have the 69-70 through 75-76 ABA media guides, and all of them mention 23'9" except for the corners.

The shot was actually commonly referred to as a "25 footer", but was really just a standard three-pointer. From Terry Pluto's "Loose Balls":

Thanks Fpliii. As always, you are a valuable resource.

And yes, I recall them referring to it as a "25 footer."