The NBA on Wednesday implemented a new “Heave Rule” that had fans all asking the same question.
The league’s board of governors voted Wednesday to approve the rule. The rule says that late heaves will not count against an individual’s field goal percentage. Shots taken from at least 36 feet away from the basket within the final three seconds of one of the first three quarters will not count against an individual’s field goal percentage, though they will count as a team shot.
This change should encourage players to be more aggressive throwing up long shots at the end of quarters. Previously, players were shy about doing so because the likely miss would negatively affect their statistics.
Of course, as soon as the new rule was announced, fans asked the same question: will it count in a player’s favor if they make the shot?
So if the player makes it, who gets the points…?
— SkyzNYC (@SkyzNyc) September 10, 2025
So what happens if they make it?
— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) September 10, 2025
The answer is yes, the baskets will count to the player if they make it. Players will now receive all the benefits of taking a long shot without being penalized.
Players had become so concerned about protecting their statistics that they wouldn’t take low-percentage heaves for fear even if they had the chance of helping their team win. Now, the penalty has been removed, which should incentivize more heaves.
Should makes count even if misses don’t? These are penalty-free shots, though they count towards a team’s statistics. For some context, a shot attempt does not count against an individual if they get fouled, though they do get credit for a make if they convert on such a shot.
