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Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2007

A three-point field goal (also known as a three-pointer, three or trey) is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for shots made inside the three point line.

A three-point field goal is distinguished from a "three-point play" or an and-1, which occurs when a shooter successfully scores a two-point basket while being fouled, and then makes the ensuing free throw. If such a foul occurs on a successful three-point shot, the resulting free throw gives the player a chance to earn a four-point play.

Three-point field goal percentage is a measure of three-point shooting accuracy calculated by the ratio of three-point field goals made to three-point field goals attempted.

History[link]

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (September 2007)

The referee signals that this Manny Harris jump shot is a three point attempt. In the instance of Harris making this shot, the referee would raise his other hand to signal a good basket.

A three-point rule was tested in 1933 at the suggestion of Herman Sayger of Tiffin, Ohio. Sayger demonstrated new rules designed to eliminate the center jump and establish a new scoring system in a game played by high school athletes in Tiffin, Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

The three-point rule was first tested at the collegiate level in a 1945 National Collegiate Athletic Association game between Columbia and Fordham. However, professional basketball was the first to adopt the rule on a permanent basis. The short-lived American Basketball League did so in 1961, and the Eastern Professional Basketball League followed in its 1963–64 season. The three-point shot later became popularized by the original American Basketball Association after its introduction in the 1967–68 season. During the 1970s, the ABA used the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 1979–80 season, the NBA adopted the three-point shot.

The sport's international governing body, FIBA, introduced the three-point line in 1984, at a distance of 6.25 m (20.5 ft).

The NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot (6.7 m) line in 1980. The first collegiate team to score a three-pointer was Western Carolina University. Over the following five years, NCAA conferences differed in their use of the rule and the distance they required for a three-point shot. The NCAA adopted the 19-foot, 9-inch line nationally in 1986. In 2007, the NCAA lengthened the men's three point distance to 20 feet 9 inches, with the rule coming into effect at the beginning of the 2008–09 season.

During the 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996–97 seasons, the NBA attempted to address decreased scoring by shortening the distance of the line from 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet at the corners) to a uniform 22 feet (6.7 m) around the basket. In 1995–96, Dennis Scott set a then-record for most three-pointers made in a season (267) and George McCloud set the record for most three-point attempts (678). From the 1997–98 season, the NBA reverted the line to its original distance of 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet at the corners). Ray Allen broke Scott's record with 269 three-pointers in the 2005–06 season.

In 2008, FIBA announced that the distance would be increased by 50 cm to 6.75 m (22 ft 2 in), with the change being phased in, beginning in October 2010.

Rule specifications[link]

The three-point line generally consists of an arc at a set radius measured from the point on the floor directly below the center of the basket, and two parallel lines equidistant from each sideline extending from the nearest end line to the point at which they intersect the arc. A player's feet must be completely behind the three-point line at the time of the shot or jump in order to make a three-point attempt; if the player's feet are on or in front of the line, it is a two point attempt. A player is allowed to jump from outside the line and land inside the line to make a three-point attempt, as long as the ball is released in mid-air.

An official raises his arm with three fingers extended to signal the shot attempt. If the attempt is successful, he or she raises his other arm with all fingers fully extended in manner similar to a football official signifying successful field goal to indicate the three-point goal. The official must recognize it for it to count as three points. Instant replay has sometimes been used, depending on league rules (for example, the NBA^[1] and the NCAA specifically allow replay for this purpose).

If a shooter is fouled while attempting a three-pointer and subsequently misses the shot, the shooter is awarded three free-throw attempts. If a player completes a three-pointer while being fouled, the player is awarded one free-throw for a possible 4-point play.

The distance of the three-point line varies by level:

• NBA: Arc radius 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m), no less than 3 feet (0.91 m) from each sideline^[2]
• WNBA: Arc radius 20 feet 6.25 inches (6.2548 m), no less than 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) from each sideline^[3]
• FIBA: Arc radius 6.75 meters (22.1 ft), no less than 0.9 meters (3.0 ft) from each sideline^[4]
• NCAA: Arc radius 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 m), no less than 4 feet 3 inches (1.30 m) from each sideline^[5]
• High School: Arc radius 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m)^[6]

Related concepts[link]

In gridiron football, a field goal is always worth three points. NFL Europe and the Stars Football League have adopted a rule similar to basketball's three-point line in which an additional point is awarded for longer field goals; in both leagues, the line is the opponent's 40-yard line, meaning any field goal of fifty yards or more in either league is worth four points.

The Super Goal is a similar concept in Australian rules football, in which a fifty-metre arc determines the value of a goal; within the arc, it is the usual 6 points, but 9 points are scored for a "super goal" scored from outside the arc. To date the super goal is only used in pre-season games and not in the season proper.^[7]

The National Professional Soccer League II, which awarded two points for all goals except those on the power play, also used a three-point line, drawn 45 feet from the goal. It has since been adopted by some other indoor soccer leagues.

See also[link]

• 50–40–90 Club, exclusive group of players with one criteria including shooting at least 40 percent of three-pointers
• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders

References[link]

External links[link]

• NBA.com's Top 10 three-pointers from past 25 years
• Article on Columbia's experimentation with the three-point field goal decades before its official introduction
• "Long Live the Three" by Steve Shutt, Basketball Hall of Fame

v t e Basketball History and General History of basketball James Naismith Variations of basketball Leagues Glossary of terms Outline Index of articles Rules Officials 3 seconds 5 seconds Carrying Double dribble Foul Goaltending Traveling Basket interference Jump ball Game play Positions Playbook Layup Slam dunk Jump shot Point Field goal Free throw Three-pointer Moves Rebound Assist Dribble Steal Block Screen Flopping Cherry picking Equipment Ball Court Key (lane) Backboard Breakaway rim Shot clock Clothing Basketball sleeve Finger sleeve Miscellany Winning streaks 100-point scorers

Kevin Love

Love with the Timberwolves
No. 42 – Minnesota Timberwolves
Power Forward / Center
Personal information
Born	(1988-09-07) September 7, 1988 (age 23) Santa Monica, California
Nationality	American
High school	Lake Oswego High School
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (2007–2008)
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Pro career	2008–present
Career history
2008–present	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA All-Star (2011–2012) All-NBA Second Team (2012) Three-Point Shootout Champion (2012) NBA Most Improved Player (2011) NBA rebounding champion (2011) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2009) Pac-10 Player of the Year (2008) Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (2008) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2007)

Kevin Wesley Love (born September 7, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The two-time All-Star is one of the top rebounders in the NBA, and he holds the longest streak for consecutive games recording double figures in points and rebounds since the merger between the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the NBA. The Associated Press called Love the new face of the Timberwolves franchise.^[1] He is also known for his outlet passing, which led to comparisons to Wes Unseld.^[2][3]

A top ranked prospect out of Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, Love played one season of college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and led the team to a Final Four appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Love was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year and consensus First Team All-American following the season. Love chose not to complete his three remaining years of college eligibility and entered the 2008 NBA Draft.^[4] He was taken fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, and was traded to the Timberwolves on draft night for the third overall selection, O. J. Mayo, in an eight-player deal.^[5] Love was a member of the gold medal-winning United States men's national basketball team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Early years[link]

Kevin Love was born in Santa Monica, California, the second of three children of Karen and former NBA forward Stan Love. A year later, the Love family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon.^[6] Growing up, Stan passed on his interest in basketball by showing his son tapes of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry. In addition, Love studied tapes of all-time great passing centers in Wes Unseld and Bill Walton, along with instructional tapes from Hall of Famers such as Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Michael Jordan. For hand and wrist strength, Stan would push Love to do fingertip push-ups as well as other upper body exercises.^[7]

High school career[link]

Love had a successful high school career with the Lake Oswego Lakers. In his sophomore year, Love averaged 25.3 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, and led the Lakers to the 2005 Oregon state high school basketball championship game, where they lost to Jesuit High School 57–53.^[8][9] That summer, Love was the center of controversy when Nike removed him from its Portland Elite Legends AAU team because he had chosen to participate in the Reebok ABCD Camp against other top recruits.^[10][11] Love went on to play for the Southern California All-Stars, where the team compiled an unprecedented 46–0 record as he garnered three MVP awards.^[8]

In 2006, Love averaged 28.0 ppg, 16.1 rpg, and dished out 3.5 apg as the Lakers returned to the Oregon state championship game. With Love's 24 points and 9 rebounds, the Lakers defeated South Medford and fellow star recruit Kyle Singler, 59–57.^[9] In Love's final year at Lake Oswego, he put up 33.9 ppg, 17.0 rpg, and 4.0 apg as the team finished 26–2.^[8][12] Earlier that year, in a game against Rex Putnam High School, Love shattered the backboard on a breakaway dunk.^[13] Love and Singler met again for the 2007 championship, this time however, Singler and South Medford defeated Lake Oswego 58–54, overcoming Love's 37 points and 15 rebounds.^[8][14] After the season, Love was named the 2007 Men's Basketball Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Love finished his high school career as the all-time leading scorer in Oregon boys' basketball history with 2,628 points. The previous record had stood for 50 years.^[8] The Lakers went 92–21 in four seasons with Love, and made three straight state championship games, winning once.^[8]

College career[link]

Love during his season at UCLA.

Love was ranked as one of the top players in the nation from the class of 2007.^[15][16] In July 2006, Love verbally committed to play college basketball for coach Ben Howland at UCLA.^[17] He had also considered playing for the University of North Carolina.^[11][18][19] Love, who had worn number 42 for a majority of his basketball career, received permission from Walt Hazzard to wear the same number with UCLA, even though the school had retired the number for Hazzard in 1996.^[20] After arriving at UCLA, Love regularly sought out retired Bruins legends Bill Walton and John Wooden for advice.^[21]

Love's decision to play for the Bruins brought animosity from fans of the University of Oregon, his father's alma mater, where it was expected he would play. Prior to a game at Oregon, Ducks fans obtained Love's cell phone number and left obscene messages as well as death threats; the fans also subjected Love's family to obscenities and threw garbage at them during the game. This event, along with similar incidents directed at other players, has prompted a discussion of whether abuse by college basketball fans is becoming too extreme.^[22][23] Love finished the game with 26 points and 18 rebounds in a 80–75 win.^[24]

In the 2008 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, the Bruins defeated the USC Trojans, featuring O. J. Mayo, in the semi-finals. Both Mayo and Love were nominated to the All Pac-10 tournament team. Later, Love guided UCLA to the regular season Pac-10 conference championship, the conference tournament championship, and a #1 seed in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Love helped the Bruins to the Final Four of the tournament, where they lost to the Memphis Tigers. At the end of the 2007–08 regular season, Love was named consensus first-team All-American, Pac-10 Player of the Year, All-Pac-10, and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. He led the Bruins with 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, and 23 double-doubles.^[25]

NBA career[link]

2008 NBA Draft[link]

In a press conference on April 17, 2008, Love announced his intention to leave UCLA to enter the 2008 NBA Draft.^[4] He was taken fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, right after his teammate at UCLA, Russell Westbrook. Following the draft, Love was traded along with Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the third overall pick O. J. Mayo, Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, and Greg Buckner going to the Grizzlies.^[5][26]

Rookie season[link]

Love went on to play in the 2008 NBA Summer League and led all players in rebounding.^[27] In his NBA debut on October 29, Love came off the bench to contribute 12 points and nine rebounds in a 98–96 win over the Sacramento Kings.^[28] The Timberwolves struggled early on losing 15 of their first 19 games, prompting the dismissal of head coach Randy Wittman.^[29] Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale, a Hall of Famer who acquired Love in the trade, took over as head coach and they developed a close relationship.^[30][31][32] Under McHale, the Timberwolves improved their play in January by going 10–4, with Love averaging a double-double.^[33] Love was not selected to the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge, to the surprise of his teammates and coaches.^[34][35] After team's leading scorer Al Jefferson was sidelined for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in February,^[36] Love's minutes increased, and he was named NBA Rookie of the Month for March.^[37]

Love finished the season ninth in the league in rebounding, first among rookies, and ranked third in total offensive rebounds. Love also led all first-years with 29 double-doubles, the most by a Timberwolves rookie in franchise history. He also ranked first in the league in offensive rebound percentage, becoming the first rookie to lead the league since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984–85. Love was also second in the NBA in total rebound percentage. He was named to the 2009 NBA All-Rookie Second Team and finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting.^[38]

2009–10 season[link]

In the off-season, Love was invited to participate in the USA National Team mini-camp that was conducted from July 22–25 in Las Vegas.^[39][40] Love also generated attention from his Twitter account when he broke the story that Kevin McHale wasn't returning to coach the Timberwolves for the 2009–2010 season.^[41]

Love began the season on the injured list when in a pre-season game on October 16, 2009 against the Chicago Bulls, he broke the fourth metacarpal in his left hand by banging it against the elbow of teammate Oleksiy Pecherov.^[42] Following surgery, Love missed the first 18 games of the season. He returned against the New Orleans Hornets on December 4, 2009, and made immediate impact for the Timberwolves, who were struggling out of the gate with a 2–16 record.^[43][44]

Kevin Love was selected to play in NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge.^[45][46] He finished the season ranked as the NBA's best rebounder per 48 minutes (18.4), besting Dwight Howard (18.3) and Marcus Camby (18.1).^[47]

2010–11 season[link]

The Timberwolves' trade of Jefferson before the 2010–11 NBA season was expected to result in more playing time for Love. However, he averaged 28 minutes through the first nine games, exceeding 30 minutes only twice. Chris Mannix of SI.com wrote that many speculated there was a rift between coach Kurt Rambis and Love.^[47] In a home game against the New York Knicks on November 12, 2010, Love became the 19th player to record a "30–30" game, when he recorded 31 points along with a career-high 31 rebounds.^[48] His 31 rebounds set a Timberwolves franchise record and were also the most by a player in an NBA game since Charles Barkley recorded 33 rebounds in a game in 1996.^[49] Love became the first player to record a 30–30 game since Moses Malone in 1982.^[50] Love scored a career-high 43 points and had 17 rebounds on December 18 in a 115–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.^[51] On February 4, 2011, Love was selected by Commissioner David Stern to his first NBA All-Star Game as replacement for the injured Yao Ming. The day before, Love was not selected as an All-Star as a reserve although averaging 21.4 points, a league-best 15.5 rebounds, shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range, and having 34 straight double-doubles for the 11–37 Timberwolves.^[52][53][54] On February 8, Love set a team record (previously held by Kevin Garnett) with his 38th consecutive double-double after scoring 20 points and recording 14 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 112–108 win over the Houston Rockets.^[55] He scored 37 points and had 23 rebounds on February 27 in a 126–123 win over the Golden State Warriors. It was his fourth 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season, and Love went 18 for 23 from the free throw line to tie Minnesota's team records for made and attempted free throws.^[56] On March 13, Love's consecutive double-double streak ended at 53 games in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.^[57] It was the longest streak since the ABA–NBA merger in 1976,^[58] surpassing Malone's 51-game streak from 1979 to 1980.^[59][60] Love was two short of Elvin Hayes's streak of 55 consecutive double-double set in the 1973–74 season.^[57] According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 227 consecutive double-doubles from 1964 to 1967. The NBA does not recognize the double-double as an official statistic.^[61][62] Love suffered a strained left groin on March 20 against Sacramento.^[63] He missed the final six games and nine of the last 11 games of the season due to the injury.^[64][65]

Love led the NBA in rebounding averaging 15.2 per game.^[64] He won the NBA Most Improved Player Award after increasing his points per game by 44 percent and his rebounds per game by 38 percent over his previous season. Love established career highs in rebounding, scoring (20.2), assists (2.5), double-doubles (64), field goal percentage (.470), free throw shooting (.850), 3-point shooting (.417) and minutes played (35.8). He became the first player to average at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a season since Malone in the 1982–83 season.^[66] The Associated Press wrote that he emerged as the new face of the franchise since Garnett was traded from the Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics in 2007.^[1] In 2010–11, Love's No. 42 was the Wolves' top-selling jersey since Kevin Garnett was in his prime.^[67]

2011–12 season[link]

In January 2012, Love scored 30 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.^[68] He began the season recording 15 straight double-doubles, the first player to do so since Hakeem Olajuwon in the beginning of the 1992-1993 NBA season.^[68] On January 20, 2012, Love took a half second 3 point shot to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. Love agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $60–62 million with the Timberwolves on January 25. He wanted to be the Timberwolves' "designated player" for a five-year deal but settled on four years with a player option to opt out after the third year.^[69] Love followed up this new contract extension the subsequent night with a 31 point performance in a win over the Dallas Mavericks.^[70] On February 6, 2012, Love was given a two-game suspension for stepping on the face of Luis Scola.^[71] After the game on February 4, Love said, "I mean, he fell down after the play. He just kind of laid there and... I just happened to be there. I had nowhere to go. I got kind of tripped up and I just had nowhere to step. He was right there... and it happened to be his face.” ^[70] On February 25, 2012, Love participated in the Three-Point Shootout and defeated Kevin Durant in the final tie-breaking round to win the contest. Love scored a season high 42 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 3, 2012.^[72] Love set a franchise record for most games scoring over 30 points in a season on March 12, 2012 in a victory over the Phoenix Suns.^[73][74] He also had a career-high 51 points in a 149-140 double overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The following game, Love erupted for 30 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in a win over the Denver Nuggets.^[75] Love finished sixth in MVP voting by season's end.^[76]

International career[link]

Medal record
Competitor for  United States
FIBA World Championship
Gold	2010 Turkey	Team competition

Love was a member of the United States men's national basketball team that won the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He is among the 20 finalists for 2012 Olympic team.^[77]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Correct as of April 22, 2012

Personal life[link]

Love's uncle, Mike, is a singer in The Beach Boys and brother of Love's father, Stan. Mike and Stan's cousins include The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson. His aunt, Kathleen McCartney Hearst, was an accomplished triathlete. He has an older brother, Collin, and a younger sister, Emily.^[8] His middle name, Wesley, is in honor of Wes Unseld, the former Washington Bullets center and the Loves' family friend.^[78] In 2009, Love became the first among NBA players to join the Hoops for St. Jude charity program benefitting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, after working with the hospital as part of the league's "Rookie Relief" community outreach program in his first season in the league.^[79]

Endorsements and investments[link]

In 2011, Love signed a 6-year endorsement contract with the Chinese shoe company 361 Degrees.^[80] He is also an investor in the lifestyle website 12Society. ^[81]

Media appearances[link]

Love appeared on the front cover for the video game NCAA Basketball 09.^[82] He was one of the featured stars in the film Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot.^{[citation needed]} He appeared as himself on the Disney Channel show The Suite Life on Deck during the season 3 episode Twister: Part 1 along with Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.^[83] He appeared in the HBO television series Entourage in its seventh season finale Lose Yourself.^{[citation needed]}

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game
• 2006 high school boys basketball All-Americans

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kevin Love

• Official Website of Kevin Love
• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com