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Imago
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A bold and deeply ironic idea has come from Steve Kerr, the same coach who helped define the modern three-point revolution. Now, he is questioning whether the shot should even exist. After spending much of the season pushing for scheduling changes to reduce injuries, Kerr has taken things a step further, floating the idea of eliminating the three-point line altogether. It is a suggestion that cuts straight at the identity of today’s NBA and has instantly sparked debate across the league.
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“The analytics revolution has created a weird situation where we all know exactly where the highest efficiency shots are: layups and corner threes because the corner three is twenty-two feet and not 23.9, like the one above the break,” Kerr explained in a recent interview. He went even further, adding that the game has created a “no man’s land” in the mid-range and wondering whether removing the line entirely could “diversify the way everybody would play.” That is what makes the idea so jarring, coming from the very coach who maximized the three-point shot on his way to four championships.
Kerr has spent years reinforcing that philosophy. Players who drift away from efficient shots often find themselves pulled back into the system, with mid-range looks frequently discouraged in favor of open threes. The perimeter now dominates the modern game, and traditional positional basketball continues to fade. Yet Phil Jackson, the Hall of Famer who coached both Michael Jordan and Kerr, sees a different way to address the same issue.
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“15 years I’ve been asking the NBA rules committee to widen the court apron. Corner shot becomes 23.9,” the legendary coach wrote on X.
Steve Kerr says he would consider ELIMINATING the three-point line to make the game more creative
“I would never do a four-point play. In fact, I would even consider getting rid of the three-point line. I just think that the game, as it was designed, is really to create the best… pic.twitter.com/03QYadH0dk
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) April 26, 2026
The math behind the modern game makes this easy to understand. Corner threes sit at roughly 22 feet, while above-the-break attempts stretch to 23.9, creating a built-in advantage that teams hunt relentlessly. That is why even traditional big men like Andre Drummond now space out to the corners. Jackson’s proposal removes that imbalance. By making every three-point attempt the same distance, it eliminates the easiest shot on the floor without eliminating the three itself.
Shooters are not going to stop taking threes, even with a few extra feet. But what it does change is the decision-making. Analytics would no longer funnel offenses toward one specific spot on the floor. It may not fully revive the mid-range game, but every postseason still shows how valuable that area becomes when defenses tighten and easy threes disappear.
Jackson’s tweak introduces equal risk across the arc, forcing offenses to think rather than simply optimize. It does not abandon analytics, but it removes the shortcut. In that sense, it aligns with Kerr’s broader vision of a more creative and less predictable game.
But unlike his push for scheduling changes, Kerr is not rushing to bring this idea to the league office. There is a very clear reason why.
Steve Kerr wants to achieve more with Stephen Curry
Kerr fully understands what the current system provides, especially when you coach Stephen Curry. “I coach Steph Curry, so I’d rather wait till Steph’s retired,” he admitted. Removing the three-point line would directly undercut the greatest shooting weapon in league history, something Kerr is not willing to do while that window is still open.
In doing so, he also addressed the bigger picture. Kerr still believes there is more to accomplish with Curry and Draymond Green as his contract situation continues to loom.
“I don’t want to abandon those guys. If Steph and Draymond were retiring this year, I think this would be an easy decision. We all go out together and the organization takes its new path. But it’s not that easy because I think Steph’s going to play another couple of years and I think we can still do some good things together,” Kerr said.
Kerr is in no rush to make a decision, planning to take time before engaging in serious contract talks. That patience is rooted in one belief. As long as Curry is still on the floor, there is always more to achieve.
There is still a version of basketball without the three-point line, but the Warriors’ dynasty was built on maximizing it. With the league leaning even further into perimeter shooting, it is hard to imagine the NBA moving away from it anytime soon.
The game may not need a complete reset, but it is clearly at a point where adjustments are being considered. Jackson’s long-standing proposal offers balance without erasing one of basketball’s most exciting elements. Whether the league ever acts on it or not, this moment highlights a rare shift. The very architects of the modern game are now questioning what it has become.
Written by
Edited by
Tanay Sahai