The NBA will implement a new rule for the 2025-26 season to stop penalizing players for attempting heaves at the end of quarters. Unsuccessful end-of-period heaves will now be recorded as a missed field goal attempt for the team but not the player.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report.
Many players have been guilty of avoiding heaves at the end of the quarter in order to protect their field goal percentage. Now, any shot attempt beyond 36 feet within three seconds from the end of the quarter will only affect the team’s field goal percentage and not the player’s.
This rule was in place for the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League and appears to have drawn positive reviews. Prior to Las Vegas, the rule was first experimented with during the NBA G League’s 2024-25 season.
The 2025-26 NBA season will commence Oct. 21. The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers will be at home against the Golden State Warriors.
Jokic, Edwards Among Players Who Will Benefit
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic attempted the most heaves in the league by far last season with 22. He also shot a staggering 41.7 percent on threes. If you take away the 20 heaves he missed, he would have shot 44.4 percent from three for the season.
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges attempted 12 heaves, which was second-most. He missed all 12 and with this year’s upcoming rule, his 3-point percentage would have been 36.4 percent instead of 35.4.
Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards was third-highest with 10 heaves. Surprisingly, Stephen Curry only attempted six heaves last season but that may also be because teams respect him so much that they even try to take heaves away from him.
You get a fair idea of who’s more concerned with individual stats than their team’s success in these situations, especially if their team is trailing. This rule should cause a significant shift in how end-of-quarter situations play out.
