Too Many Threes? Paul Pierce Proposes a Phased LED Three-Point Line
The debate is open: is the overuse of the three-point shot hurting the game? According to Paul Pierce, the solution isn’t limiting it, but regulating it. The idea: an LED line that lights up in phases
Some have suggested moving the three-point line even farther back, or even introducing a four-point line. Then there’s Paul Pierce, who decided to take it a step further.
On the latest episode of his podcast, the former Celtics star floated a proposal that sparked plenty of discussion: an “intermittent” three-point line, switched on and off depending on specific moments of the game.
It should be an LED line that turns on and off. You can deactivate and reactivate it at certain moments of the game, like if you’re down 10 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. It’s crazy how I’ve seen games where in the final three minutes they’re only shooting threes.
Paul Pierce
The idea is as simple as it is radical (much like Barkley’s solutions to tanking): over 48 minutes, the three-point line would only be active for part of the game.
That way we’ll see who can really play. You can’t just launch from outside – you’ve got to score in other ways.
Paul Pierce
A provocation? Probably. But the issue is real. In the 2025-26 season, teams are averaging 37 three-point attempts per game, near historic highs. The analytics revolution has reshaped the sport: either at the rim or from beyond the arc.
Some, however, urge caution. Bill Simmons has previously suggested eliminating the corner three, a more concrete solution to reduce volume.
And Pat Riley has admitted that seeing 50 threes in a single game can make your “eyes pop,” while still acknowledging the talent and quality of modern basketball.
Today it’s all about pace and spacing, and that’s positive. But sometimes your eyes pop when you see 50 threes attempted, and maybe only 25 are really good shots. It almost becomes a war of attrition, but it’s still a great show.
Pat Riley
The truth is, the game follows the numbers. As long as analytics say the three-pointer is the most efficient shot, teams will keep taking it.
The debate is heating up. And what if, without realizing it, we’re witnessing the beginning of a new evolution of the game?