D'Antoni: The Three-Point Revolution Happened Because of Shaq

D'Antoni: The Three-Point Revolution Happened Because of Shaq

During his tenure as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns some twenty years ago, Mike D’Antoni began the process of changing modern NBA basketball. At the time of its inception, the NBA was still living in the era of Shaquille O’Neal. And with no new Shaqs on the horizon, the Suns had to think of something. D’Antoni’s Suns were famous for what became known as the “Seven Seconds or Less” offence, the thesis of which was exactly what it sounds like.…

Mike D'Antoni credits Shaquille O'Neal for the importance of the three-point shot today

It started, excuse me, earlier in my career and I thought in Europe when I was coaching in Europe, that’s the best way to play and was working. Obviously then you come to the NBA, you have better players to do what I always thought that needed to be done. But again, a big driving force was Shaquille O’Neal was the center in Los Angeles, which is in our division. And we always said among ourselves, you can’t out Shaq Shaq. You can’t just trot som…

Mike D’Antoni breaks down how Shaquille O’Neal caused the NBA’s three-point revolution, ‘you can’t just…’

D’Antoni and the Suns are credited with bringing about the NBA’s 3-point revolution. The former head coach explained how Shaq is the reason it happened. Mike D’Antoni was the brains behind the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ Phoenix Suns. His team, led by Steve Nash and surrounded by gritty defenders and shooters, took the NBA by storm. By playing a fast-paced offense that was built around perimeter play, the Suns helped the NBA transform into a three-p…