NBA legend Jerry West recently shared his thoughts on how the three-point line has transformed the game, expressing his concerns about its impact on coaching and the aesthetics of basketball. Speaking on Podcast P with Paul George, West highlighted the challenges the three-point line presents and its influence on player styles.
According to West, the reliance on long-range shooting has made the game more difficult to coach and often leads to a lack of captivating plays. He expressed a preference for the beauty of a well-executed layup or a brilliant pass over the prevalence of three-point attempts.
West believes that the modern game has become softer and that teams without exceptional talent may struggle to win if they heavily rely on perimeter shooting. In his view, the three-point emphasis takes away potential points and detracts from the beauty of basketball.
“The game is soft that way today. I don’t like it,” West said, via Larry Brown Sports. “I don’t think it makes for pretty basketball. And I think, unless you have a great, great team late in the game, you’re gonna lose games, you’re taking points off the board.”
As the league continues to evolve, West’s perspective serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of the three-point line on the sport.
