World reacts to new NBA rule that changes how the game is played
The NBA are set to make a significant rule change for the upcoming season.
The upcoming NBA season is set to see a new rule implemented that will likely change how players utilise the final few seconds of the game.
Reports have emerged that suggest the NBA have changed the rules regarding half-court heaves (long-distance shots taken as the game clock expires: they will no longer affect a player’s statistics and instead only count towards the team numbers.
This is potentially very significant in the world of modern basketball: statistics have come to dominate the discourse when discussing player performance, with everyone from hiring managers to fan groups analysing the numbers behind the stars on the court.
Yall are about to see this shit 82 times this year 😭 pic.twitter.com/PPK0fQ7F7I
— BetHog (@playBetHog) September 10, 2025
The new NBA rule coming in for 2025
Performance data is also valuable from a player perspective: higher statistics mean a higher profile and, ultimately, a higher chance of making it onto the roster of a bigger team, where the contracts are juicier.
NBA insider Shams Charania wrote on social media, saying: “The NBA will implement a new change for the 2025-26 season: unsuccessful end-of-period heaves will now be recorded as a missed field-goal attempt for the team, not the player, sources tell ESPN. Those long heaves will no longer impact an individual player’s percentages.”
He added that fans should “expect even more long-range shots from players this season, which was behind motivation of the change and the league testing it at Summer League in July. The Competition Committee has been in support of the adjustment in recent months too."
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young appears to be the first player in the NBA to react to the news, simply posting a heart emoji.
❤️
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) September 10, 2025
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The 2025–26 NBA regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Opening night will feature a nationally televised doubleheader on NBC, starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets and followed by the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers.
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