How Horford has Impacted NBA’s 3-Point Revolution

 When it comes to prolific 3-point pioneers, Steph Curry is the first name that comes to mind for most.

But there is another player, besides the category’s all-time leader, who deserves more recognition for helping to kick-start the 3-point revolution:

A decade ago, stretch-5s were few and far between. Horford was one of the first to help start the trend. He sensed that the game was evolving and realized that developing a 3-point shot could both enhance and extend his career, so he boldly reshaped his approach right in the midst of his prime.

Horford wasn’t the only one. Others, such as Brook Lopez, hopped on the trend, as well, and it changed the game for years to come. It allowed offenses to create more space, it increased scoring, and it helped lessen the physical burden that impacted the longevity of careers.

When asked Wednesday afternoon if the 3-point shot has impacted his own longevity, the 18-year veteran answered without hesitation: “Absolutely.”

 “I believe that for me, physically, it has added years to my career,” he added. “It’s been good for me, and I think Brook saw it as well, and it’s been a great benefit. And now, guys are coming in from college, and they’re already shooting it, and they’re confident, [coaches are] giving them the green light, and it’s a good thing.”

Horford was given the green light from the Atlanta Hawks about 10 years ago. Former Hawks general manager Rick Sund nudged Horford toward the 3-point arc, and coaches Kenny Atkinson and Mike Budenholzer worked with him to develop his shot.

Horford went from attempting just 78 regular season and playoff threes through his first eight years to attempting 2,769 in his last 10.

“I just think that it’s just the progression of the game, the evolution of the game,” Horford said. “My rookie year, I would have never imagined this. I would have never imagined 10 years ago, seeing that many 3-point shots being shot, and it’s just the way that the game is just going.

“The trend that you’ve seen the last few years is that at every position, as soon as you come in the league, guys are shooting them, and they’re comfortable with them. Whereas before, guys had to develop it here, they had to figure it out, or they didn’t shoot them as much, or weren’t as comfortable. But there is a lot of value in teams’ eyes with the 3-point shooting.”

No team values the 3-point shot more than the Celtics, who attempt 51.1 per game. The most that a team has averaged in a full season is 45.4 attempts by the 2018-19 Houston Rockets.

You can say goodbye to that record soon.

The enormous volume is proving to be beneficial for the 21-5 C’s, who score nearly 8.0 points per game more from beyond the arc than any other team.

Boston also emphasizes defending the 3-point arc. It allows just 12.4 3-point makes per game, the fourth-best mark in the league. Combine that with its 19.0 makes on the other end, and you get a net difference of 19.8 points per game from long range.

Aside from the Celtics, there are four other teams averaging at least 40 3-point attempts per game. Prior to this season, only 15 teams in history had reached that mark, all within the last eight years.

As much of an impact as guys like Curry and James Harden had on that trend, don’t forget about the unsung heroes like Horford and Lopez. They’re the ones who changed their approach in the middle of their careers by adding a 3-point shot to their games, and rising big men followed suit.

Now, stretch 5s are the norm. As a result, offenses are scoring at record pace, and bigs are reaping the physical benefits of maintaining longer careers.