A Shot Clock is an electronic system that automatically starts counting down to zero from twenty-four seconds once someone has touched the ball or gained possession. The clock is used in National Basketball Association (NBA) games and some high school and college arenas, with a few variations to accommodate different schedules and game lengths. It is distinct from the game clock because the shot clock keeps track of how much time a team has to shoot the ball, as opposed to the time remaining in the game.
History of the Shot Clock
While this device was first used for NBA games in 1954, it wasn’t made mandatory for colleges until 1985.
The invention of the shot clock was a natural outgrowth to the popularity and profitability of basketball in America. When a sport becomes a lucrative business, there is a demand for official rules to make games fair, which also improve the entertainment value. With millions watching college and professional games on TV, pro basketball’s image was becoming sullied by games that were low scoring and marred by player complaints about lack of clock time. When the Fort Wayne Pistons set a record for fewest points in a game with five versus the Minneapolis Lakers on November 22, 1950, the media wrote about it as an indictment to pro basketball’s status as a legitimate sport.
NCAA
On the other hand, college basketball was also criticized during this time for not having a shot clock. However, its games were more popular than the pro game because of several factors including that they are shorter (college games are two twenty-minute halves compared to NBA games which are four twelve-minute quarters), and there is minimal physical play (this has changed with the development of US college basketball). For the 1985-86 season, the 40-second shot clock was implemented and in the 1993-94 season the time was reduced to 35 seconds. Finally, in the 2015-16 season, the shot clock was to shortened to 30 seconds.
First Basketball Shot Clocks
At first, the device proved extremely unpopular with players, who found it distracting and stressful. Players were timing themselves instead of relying on their skills and abilities. There was also concern that the shot clock would disrupt the flow of the game, making it far more difficult for players to score. Coaches also disliked the new rule. They were worried that it would be difficult to teach something as complicated as a shot clock and its rules in only a few days of practice.
Danny Biasone, the owner of Syracuse Nationals, didn’t agree with that. He had a different vision for shot clocks and what they can bring to the table. He recalled games that he enjoyed watching, and concluded that 60 shots were made during those games by each team. The game time is 48 minutes, which is 2800 seconds, both teams made about 120 shots. After dividing the time by the number of shots, it turns out that one shot should be made in 24 seconds of team possession, hence the 24 seconds rule.
Biasone was the first person to bring an idea of an actual shot clock to fruition, which might have saved the NBA overall.
Shot Clock Begins Counting
Many rule changes were also implemented at this time to address some of the issues that had been raised over the previous decades by both spectators and coaches.
The shot clock rule change had a widespread impact on college basketball as it allowed teams with fast-paced, athletic playing styles that pushed the ball up the court quickly to gain an advantage over their competition, especially in the NCAA tournament. This impacted women’s basketball as well, although not nearly to the same degree since their rules had always required a 30-second shot clock. The result was that games were becoming more exciting and fast-paced.
The first collegiate game using the new rule was between St. Peter’s College and Seton Hall University on January 20, 1966. At the time of its implementation, some officials expressed concern that it would lead to more physical play and less shooting. However, these worries were later dismissed as unfounded once the season got underway.
The new rule had the desired effect at the college level where scoring rates, shooting percentages, and attendance at games all increased. There were many other factors involved, including rule changes that allowed for offensive rebounds to be restored if the shot was missed, leading to a faster-paced game. In turn, this meant more possessions per game and more chances for scoring for both teams…
Shot Clock Rule
The shot clock begins to count down once the player has touched the ball and the team is in the possession of the ball. The countdown is started from twenty-four seconds and will reset if the player does not shoot the ball after it reaches zero. After a jump ball or, the shot clock starts when some player obtains the ball. After a missed free throw the rule applies the same.
Shot Clock Resets
There are some situations, besides the change in the team’s possession of the ball, that makes the shot clock reset. For example, when the ball is being inbounded in the backcourt, or when there is a flagrant or punching foul committed.
In a situation, when a jump ball is caused by a held ball made by the defense, the shot clock doesn’t reset.
Shot Clock Violation
The shot clock violation is a rare situation in the NBA. The violation occurs when a team takes too much time to shoot the ball after having touched it or gained possession of it. If the shot clock expires and the team has not released the ball, then they commit a shot clock violation.
If a team commits a Shot Clock Violation it would result in a penalty. The opponents are being given the ball to a throw-in from the sideline, nearest the spot where the violation was committed but no further than the free-throw line extended.
The shot clock is an important rule in basketball. Without it, the game would be much slower and less exciting for both players and spectators alike. It’s crucial to understand how this rule works if you want to get into coaching or officiating professional games. The rules are different depending on whether you’re playing for fun or pro ball so make sure your understanding matches up with what kind of game you’ll be refereeing or coaching. If you can’t seem to wrap your head around all these new terms, don’t worry- we’ve got plenty of other blog posts that explore some of these concepts more deeply!
