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Experimental basketball game raises play to new height

Seattle, WA — Moving in below the basket, Alex caught the pass, drop-stepped and turned to dunk the ball. Then he remembered that the basket was a foot higher than normal. "All of a sudden, I'm like, 'Oh, no.' So I flip it up there and it rolls off the rim," he said. "I felt like an idiot."  

There were plenty of moments like that during a recent exhibition basketball game featuring 11-foot rims. Approximately 1,000 fans turned out to watch the game at the University of Washington in Seattle. Players and coaches alike hoped that this game would be remembered as the initial spark for changing how basketball is played. "I think this will open the professional league's eyes, where they may experiment with it; give it a serious look," said Jim Harrick, a former UCLA basketball coach.  

The experiment came from a belief that today's game relies too much on dunking, 3-point shooting, and the athleticism of today’s players who are bigger, faster, and stronger than players in the past. The goal was to determine how the dynamics of the game would be changed by using taller rims. Would there be more passing? Would there be a greater focus on teamwork? Would experienced players be successful in adapting to the change? After one exhibition game, the answers to all these questions seem to be “yes.” 

The game’s organizer, former NBA assistant Tom Newell was pleased by the results. "They represented the game fundamentally as best as I could have expected," he said. During the game’s first quarter, there were a lot of sloppy plays and humorous moments, which came as no surprise, given that the players had only spent one week practicing for the game. But by the second quarter, as players started to get the hang of it, the quality of play improved, and effects of the taller basket became evident. 

With the taller rims, guys playing center could no longer simply catch the ball on the low block, turn, and simply extend their arms and lay the ball over the rim. With the taller rim, if their positioning was too deep, the shot angle was nearly impossible. When they turned, an upward shot was needed. "I can't wait to get back to a 10-foot rim," said Adam Zahn, a 6’8” center from the University of Oregon. "This showed me that I do rely on my athleticism a lot." The taller rim also impacted outside shooting. Players who weren't square to the basket with their feet set had trouble getting the ball over the front rim. Although shots improved as the game went on, fade-away shots and contested attempts usually didn’t wind up scoring. Neither did three point shots.  

"On offense, a player still has to use their athleticism, you just use it in a different way," noted one former college player who now plays in Europe. Another, who plays professional ball in Japan, observed that "kids are dunking now in eighth grade, freshman year in high school. You go back to this, the court is a lot more spread, and there are more fundamentals."

Ultimately, Newell was pleased, but realizes any change will depend on public reception to a game that would be less about entertainment and more fundamental. I can definitely see this happening again," said one player. "To be involved with the first one is kind of cool."