# Why Don't Basketball Players Do This? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235 "2002-04-01T18:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/21 "2002-04-03T17:13:42Z")
Here is the entire rule, as opposed to just the first half posted above. c. A successful field goal attempt from the area outside the three-point field goal line shall count three points. (1) The shooter must have at least one foot on the floor outside the three-point field goal line prior to the attempt. (2) The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line. (3) The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/22 "2002-04-03T17:28:55Z")
From the NBA rule book > [@](#): > > c. A successful field goal attempt from the area outside the three-point field goal line shall count three points. > (1) The shooter must have at least one foot on the floor outside the three-point field goal line prior to the attempt. > (2) **The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line.** > (3) The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released This may offer an answer to some previous inquiries. The shot offered in the op, is not a high percentage shot, and thus is not tried. Or it could be that a lot of players in the NBA own white cars, and are therefore boring, and would not try such a flashy play. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/23 "2002-04-03T17:59:26Z")
I interpret the NBA rule to mean that the shooter must have at least one foot on the ground outside the 3-point line before he shoots. If you pass the ball to the player as he is moving, he would have to catch it and release it with at least one foot outside the line. He could be running in, but he wouldn’t get far. ---
**Author:** ![Beastal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/24 "2002-04-03T19:04:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mullinator \* > \*\* > (3) The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released. \*\* Meaning the 3-point shot described in the OP could indeed be used in the NBA, and not just College. And until some pro-NBA players actually try this, we can not say for sure whether it would be worth it or not. I have seen Shawn Kemp comfortably **dunk** from the free-throw line, and I would bet that if he spent a lot of time practicing a “3-point-leap-then-shoot-from-mid-air-shot”, he would have a higher degree of success doing that then a vertical leap from the 3 point line. I stress… after \* a lot of practice\*. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/25 "2002-04-03T19:15:29Z")
1. I have a hard time believe even the mighty Kemp can comfortably dunk from the free-throw line consistently. Even in the slam dunk contests, it’s clearly a huge effort. 2. If leaping forward resulted in higher percentages, it would be used throughout the game whenever there was an opening. It is not used, whenever there is open space, the player goes there, and jumps more or less straight up from there. (Unless they are \<5" from basket, where moves in the air to the basket become much more significant.) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/26 "2002-04-03T19:46:48Z")
You mean you expect an NBA to be able to jump from 22 feet from the basket and then stay in the air high enough to be able to dunk? The NBA rule states where the player’s foot has to be prior to the attempt. That means he must have a foot on the ground outside the line prior to the rule book’s definition of an “attempt” And that is: > [@](#): > > Section XI-Field Goal Attempt > A field goal attempt is a player’s attempt to shoot the ball into his basket for a field goal. The act of shooting starts when, in the official’s judgment, the player has started his shooting motion and continues until the shooting motion ceases and he returns to a normal floor position. **It is not essential that the ball leave the shooter’s hand.** His arm(s) might be held so that he cannot actually make an attempt. The term is also used to include the flight of the ball until it becomes dead or is touched by a player. A tap during a jump ball or rebound is not considered a field goal attempt. However, anytime a live ball is in flight from the playing court, the goal, if made, shall count, even if time expires or the official’s whistle sounds. The field goal will not be scored if time on the game clock expires before the ball leaves the player’s hand. So, the officials would see a player with the ball in his hand going up for a shot and that would be considered an attempt. \*It is not essential that the ball leave the shooter’s hand. \* But I’m not an NBA ref. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/27 "2002-04-03T20:12:57Z")
I can’t believe this thread has yet to die a natural death. Might as well try to sum up every point to answer every question. The scenario in the OP would be a 3 point attempt. A 3 point attempt occus if someone shoots after last having stepped beyond the 3 point line without then touching anythin on or inside of the line. No one would be able to dunk from the 3 point line. No one would attempt this shot (and not be benched for stupidity) because it is low percentage and difficult when one considers the other shot options available. No one takes this shot because the opportunities are rare to be able to build up enough speed with enough ball control and no defenders. Hence, no one practices this shot because it won’t happen in a game. Finally, even if you were to subscribe to the notion that with enough practice it would become much easier, I heartily disagree. Having played for 20 years and at pretty darn high levels, I can say that al of the time I have spent shooting means I make about 50% of my shots from 10-15 feet out. How much practice would it take to even thinka bout reaching that percentage on what is essentially an uncontrolled long jump? Finally, the fact that there are 5 people on the floor that want to stop you from scoring is a problem. The only time this shot could happen is on a completely wide open fast break where no one else even crosses half court. Watch 20 games and see how often this occurs. Otherwise, the defender will either slow you down, foul you, cause you to commit a turnover, or take a charge. In short, ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/28 "2002-04-03T20:22:08Z")
Any player who tried could get reamed by his coach, although a successful attempt would look really, really cool. Assuming a complete breakaway, the player might be able to charge the 3-point line unhindered, but once he makes his sub-orbital leap, he’s in no position to take his own rebound if he fails, which is very very likely. He’ll have so much forward momentum that it will take him at least a second or two to recover, assuming he doesn’t crash into the backboard support (if there is one) or the cheerleaders sitting on the sidelines, etc. And if his shot bounces off the rim or the backboard, it’ll go God-knows-where, probably ending up in the hands of the defender who’s been chasing the shooter down the court and who paused to gape at the shooter’s cool-looking but ultimately dumb showboating. So either stop dead at the 3-point line and try a long free throw, or take an easy 2 on the layup. Save the fancy stuff for dunking contests. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/29 "2002-04-03T20:22:08Z")
Thank you **Mullinator** ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/30 "2002-04-03T20:23:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > \*\*But if you watch the 3-point shooting contest during the All-Star weekend, the best shooters in that contest are shooting set shots. Larry Bird wouldn’t be shooting jumpers. He would just take the ball, square his feet, and SWISH. > > As for free throws, I’ve seen some girls high school players shoot jump shots. They need to do it to give the ball enough lift to get on the right trajectory to the basket. Such shots are usually not successful.\*\* IANANBABP. 🙂 But this is definitely one of the main points in favor of the jump shot. As range increases, the increased power of the jump shot starts to become more important than the decreased shooting stability. The changeover point will vary depending on the player, naturally. I wouldn’t mess with a jump shot for a free throw-the increased power is useless for me at that range. I sure wouldn’t try a set shot for an NBA three-pointer, that would be certain to come up a couple feet short. (The jump shot would probably miss, too-but it might at least hit the rim, so nobody would start chanting, “Air ball! Air ball!”) The main power of an outside shot comes from the legs. When you see Byrd (um, saw Byrd, seeing as he’s retired) making those set-shot three pointers, you’ll still see his legs flexing with every launch. He just gets enough power from that much flex to get the ball to the basket, so he holds it there and takes advantage of the accuracy benefit of the stable shooting position. You can get more power from your legs by flexing them more-but then your body leaves the ground, making it harder to put the ball where you intend. This is all in the ‘free shot’ context, naturally. In practice, the primary reason players make jump shots in a game is that the chance of getting off a set shot unblocked is nil. (Didn’t play much b-ball myself, you understand, but I got lots of instruction from my dad, who was nicknamed ‘Half-Court’ by his college team … damn, he used to kick my ass at ‘Horse’ like you wouldn’t believe …) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/31 "2002-04-03T20:27:46Z")
Any player who tried could get reamed by his coach, although a successful attempt would look really, really cool. Assuming a complete breakaway, the player might be able to charge the 3-point line unhindered, but once he makes his sub-orbital leap, he’s in no position to take his own rebound if he fails, which is very very likely. He’ll have so much forward momentum that it will take him at least a second or two to recover, assuming he doesn’t crash into the backboard support (if there is one) or the cheerleaders sitting on the sidelines, etc. And if his shot bounces off the rim or the backboard, it’ll go God-knows-where, probably ending up in the hands of the defender who’s been chasing the shooter down the court and who paused to gape at the shooter’s cool-looking but ultimately dumb showboating. So either stop dead at the 3-point line and try a long free throw, or take an easy 2 on the layup. Save the fancy stuff for dunking contests. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/32 "2002-04-03T21:56:05Z")
I would also add that the OP said that players can dunk free throws. While it isn’t that hard for players with a running start to jump from the free throw line and dunk, it would require superhuman strength to do so for a free throw because a free throw shooter is limited to standing inside the semi-circle behind the free throw line. This would allow someone only 6 feet to run before jumping and I don’t see anyone outside of Superman performing such a feat. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/33 "2002-04-03T22:21:50Z")
**BobT** - “_I would also add that the OP said that players can dunk free throws._” NOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I meant some can dunk after jumping from the free throw line, but they were RUNNING toward the basket before that! ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/34 "2002-04-04T00:19:13Z")
But you could make an inference from the OP that you could dunk free throws. It was said that Wilt Chamberlain tried this when he was in college because he was such a poor free throw shooter and that was one reason why the rule was adopted keeping the player in the circle when he shot. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2002, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/35 "2002-04-04T00:34:38Z")
This topic was also touched on before [3 or 2 points](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=62448&highlight=basketball+and+three+and+line) And back in this thread, I was corrected on the Big Dipper’s desire to dunk a free throw. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235/36 "2002-04-04T04:53:24Z")
As for the OP, my gym teacher said when I raised the same question, and I quote “I would pay money to see that.” The problem is that long jump dunkers require a lot of time to recover. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-basketball-players-do-this/101235.md?page=1)