The Australian National Basketball League (NBL) will trial awarding three points for dunks and other rule changes in the upcoming season, the league announced on Monday.
The experimental rules, designed to increase scoring and the pace of play, will be in effect for all NBL games next season. The league said the changes are intended to make the game more entertaining for fans.
Three-point dunks and other tweaks
Under the trial, any dunk that is not a goaltend or offensive interference will count for three points, rather than the traditional two. The league also confirmed that fouls committed on a successful three-point shot will result in one free throw, and that the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound.
The NBL said the trial is part of a broader effort to modernise the sport and will be reviewed at the end of the season. The league did not specify how long the trial would last or whether it would be extended to other competitions.
Impact on the game
The changes are expected to encourage more aggressive play near the basket and could alter team strategies. Coaches and players will need to adapt to the new scoring system, which rewards dunking more heavily than in standard basketball rules.
The NBL emphasised that the trial is a one-season experiment, and its future will depend on feedback from teams, players, and fans. The league said it will evaluate the impact on game flow and scoring before deciding whether to make the rules permanent.
