Explaining the NBA Summer League's new 'heave' rule

USA Today

7 days ago

The NBA is always looking to improve its game, and with players getting more and more concerned with their personal stats, a rule that was previously experimented with in the G-League is now making its way into the 2025 Summer League.
The new "heave" rule is an effort to get players more invested in last-second shots from their own side of the court at the end of quarters.
Full court buzzer beaters have made for some of the NBA's most viral moments in recent years. Whether it's Nikola Jokic casually one-handing a shot at three-quarters court and acting like it was nothing, or Steven Adams doing the same and then hitting a shimmy, these moments have become fewer and far between as NBA players have recognized that their stats can affect contract negotiations down the line. Missed shots lead to lower field goal percentages, which means less money.
Despite attempting a heave being objectively the correct play, given that opponents will not have a chance to retaliate, many players have opted to avoid taking them altogether.
The Houston Rockets' newest star Kevin Durant has even claimed that he will refuse to take such shots if he isn't having a good night from the floor. He'll take an extra dribble or two in order to make sure the buzzer goes off before attempting the shot. Thusly, Durant has not attempted a "heave" since the 2017-2018 season.
The new rule will attempt to incentivize more of these shots. Here's what to know.
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What is the new 'heave' rule?
The new rule states that any shot attempt from beyond 36 feet from the basket (beyond the center circle extended) within three seconds from the end of a quarter will not count against the individual player's shooting statistics, only the team's field goal percentage.
During its time in the G-League, the "heave" rule was generally accepted positively. Most criticisms of the new rules were centered around "not wanting to cater to selfish players" or potential statistical inconsistencies in the future. However, neither of those issues appear damaging to the game.
Will this rule be introduced to the NBA next season?
Currently, there is no guarantee that the rule will be introduced for the 2025-26 NBA season. However, it's reception in the Summer League will likely play a major role in determining its viability in the NBA regular season.
NBA Summer League play began on July 5 and will end with the championship game as well as two consolation games on Sunday, July 20.
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