Starting in the 2025 Summer League, long end-of-quarter shots often referred to as “heaves” will no longer count against a player’s individual shooting percentage. Instead, they’ll only factor into the team’s overall shooting stats.
To qualify as a heave, the shot must meet three criteria: it has to be taken from at least 36 feet away, launched within the final three seconds of the first three quarters, and the play must start in the backcourt.
This rule tweak addresses a long-standing issue where players hesitate to launch buzzer beaters out of fear that a miss could hurt their personal stats. By removing that individual penalty, the league hopes to see more of those dramatic, last-second attempts, even if they’re low-percentage.
It’s a subtle shift, but one that could bring a bit more excitement and maybe a few more highlight reel moments to the end of each quarter.
