Abstract
This paper considers recent and historical changes in the three-point line distance at the NCAA and NBA levels as an example of policy change with highly-measurable outcome(s). The paper presents several empirical tests describing a point-maximizing basketball team's optimal allocation of two-point and three-point shots. It does so primarily in the context that the NCAA Men's Basketball three-point line was extended from 20′9″ to 21′9″ in advance of the 2019–20 season, and similar analysis for the NBA in the 1990s. We find that a three-point line extension significantly lowers three- and two-point shot proficiency, while decreasing (increasing) three-point (two-point) shot volume.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 159-173 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Sports Economics |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2023 |
Keywords
- C72
- J18
- J48
- L83
- P16
- Z28
- policy response
- public choice
- sports economics
- strategic offsetting behavior
- substitution
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous)