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NBA implements interesting new rule for 2025 Summer League

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 1:32 PM ET

The NBA has implemented a new rule for the 2025 Summer League, and it may only be a matter of time before it makes it to the regular season.

On Saturday, the NBA announced that desperation "heave" shots that come at the end of one of the first three periods will no longer count as a field-goal attempt for a player. The shot will count only as an attempt for the player's team, provided specific criteria are met.

For a desperation "heave" shot not to count against a player's field-goal percentage, the shot must come within the final seconds of one of the first three periods, be taken from beyond the outer edge of the center circle, and originate in the backcourt.

As tested during the 2024–25 NBA G League season and in effect for all 2025 NBA summer leagues, an unsuccessful end-of-period 'heave' will be recorded as a team—not individual—missed field goal attempt when all of the following criteria are met:

The missed field goal attempt… pic.twitter.com/D2P9fFTUxC
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 5, 2025

Some players have been hesitant to attempt desperation shots from near or beyond half court during games because they do not want their stats to be negatively impacted. Those shots have a very low success rate, and often players would rather not have the additional missed field goal count against them.

The goal of the new rule, which was tested during the G League last season, is to encourage more desperation heaves, potentially creating exciting moments. The NBA will likely implement it during the regular season soon.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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