Introduction
If you’re looking at an overall offensive game for a basketball player, it usually entails three main levels of scoring. While you could certainly argue that there are more than three nowadays, the main three continue to be how scouts and fans describe offense. Those three levels represent different areas on the court.
For example, the first level involves scoring at the rim. This includes dunks, layups, alley-oops, and anything else that comes in the paint.
The second level of scoring in basketball is the area between the painted section and the three-point line. These are the floaters, the mid-range jumpers, and you could even argue free throws.
Then finally, the last level is beyond the three-point line, which is of course, your three-pointers.
The First Level Of Scoring
Here’s the thing, none of these levels are technically considered “the first level” in basketball. These levels really represent a player’s ability to score in different areas, as mentioned earlier. So, if somebody has only one level of scoring, that means they are very limited to have offensively. This first level could mean that they are only good offensively when they attack the rim, take mid-range jump shots, or heave up deep three-pointers. Having one level means that a player is only good at one of those examples and doesn’t do more.
Usually, if you’re an offensive minded player, being able to score on just one level isn’t necessarily what you want. The only times that you see a professional basketball player be able to score on just one level is when they are unbelievable defensively. If that player doesn’t exceed in any other area of the court, they would be considered a liability offensively. That’s sort of the reason why scouts try and figure out how effective players are at multiple levels.
Two Levels
The majority of players today can likely score on two different levels. This means that they only struggle in one area of offense. An example of this type of player could be one that excels at shooting but can’t get physical at the rim. A player that can knock down any three-pointer or mid-range jumper attempted but can’t dunk the ball or finish a layup.
Going back to the professionals, particularly in the NBA, there are a few players nowadays that have this skillset. However, those players are likely excellent at shooting, to the point where their lack of finishing doesn’t even matter. Personally, it feels as though the majority of ball players fit inside this category.
Doing It All
In most professional leagues, scouts look for players that can do it on all three levels. Scoring at all three levels is a beautiful thing for these coaches to see, and it shows that a player can be impactful offensively immediately. Of course, scoring on all three levels means that you can put the ball in the hoop no matter where you are.
Sitting the corner and knocking down three-pointers? No problem. Driving past defenders and throwing down a dunk? You can do that. Hitting a nasty crossover and drilling a mid-range jumper? Easy. When a player can score from anywhere, they are a three-level scorer.
Could You Argue There are Five Levels?
There is an argument to be had on how many levels of scoring there are. Three levels have been the common term used for scoring in basketball for a very long time, though some would prefer splitting it into five sections instead. These five sections include the three that we’ve already talked about, which are finishing at the rim, shooting from mid-range, and knocking down three-pointers. One additional level could be towards the top of the painted area, right at the free throw line. This level could put free throws and mid-range floaters together, rather than grouping floaters in either finishing or mid-range categories. It’s not a terrible idea, though it might make it more confusing than it needs to be. Especially for newer fans of the sport. The other level that would be added to it would be beyond the three-point range. You have your standard three-pointers where your foot is right behind the line, then this level would categorize three-pointers where you are a good five steps back there.
In the NBA, players such as Steph Curry and Damian Lillard can drain shots like these with ease. Theys’ve created a trend for younger ball players to shoot from that deep more often as well. Hence the reason why creating a fifth level for this category might seem intriguing. Again though, it seems more confusing than it needs to be. A player should be known as a three-point scorer if they can simply knock them down consistently, regardless of how deep. At the end of the day, the five-level system is interesting, but not for everybody.
A Four-Pointer?
Believe it or not, some professional basketball leagues have discussed implementing a new line, beyond the three-point one. This is because of players like Lillard and Curry making deep shots regularly. These leagues believe that if they add another line, it could be for four-pointers. For players that take these shots frequently, they would love to have this added on. It would help them get even more points in each game. However, most players and fans would resent the idea. Everybody has different reasons why they don’t appreciate the addition of this. Some feel as though it would be making the game a joke, or too much of a video game type feel. Others think that a four-point line would make players work harder and bring more entertainment to the sport.
Right now, it really depends on who you ask. These days you’ll see pro players practice on courts with a built-in four-point line just in case anything happens on that front, but don’t hold your breath. It doesn’t feel like any league will be officially adding on that four-point line anytime soon, which means that the term of 3 level scoring can remain true for the forseeable future. Until that four-point line or any other scoring method gets included, players will only be judged on the three aforementioned levels of scoring.
Useful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZxRfxPP1w