Phil Jackson Is Demanding Rules Change For The Modern NBA

Phil Jackson, one of the best NBA head coaches of all-time, is demanding a rules change that he thinks could fix the league.

A lot has been made about the current state of the game. There are off-the-court issues, of course, like front offices intentionally tanking and too much player movement, but there are major on-court issues, too.

The game is too predictable. Everyone knows that NBA teams only want to shoot 3s and lay-ups. There's a ton of foul hunting, too.

Steve Kerr has a fix or two in mind.

"I would never do a four-point play. In fact, I would even consider getting rid of the three-point line. I just think that the game, as it was designed, is really to create the best shots possible. That's why in the early days, you just throw it inside to the big guy. A three-point line came from the A.B.A., in 1979, and I think it was really effective. It makes for an exciting play, but the analytics revolution has created a weird situation where we all know exactly where the highest efficiency shots are: layups and corner threes because the corner three is twenty-two feet and not 23.9, like the up above the break. You have this whole no man's land between those areas," Kerr told the New Yorker.

"So if you shoot a twenty-two-footer now from the top of the key, that's considered a really bad shot. I just wonder-and I don't know if this would work or not-if we got rid of the three-point line, if it would diversify the way everybody would play and create a lot of different creative solutions to basketball."

Phil Jackson has a different idea in mind

Jackson, the legendary head coach of the Bulls and Lakers, has a different idea in mind: widen the court.

"15 years I've been asking the NBA rules committee to widen the court apron," he suggested.

"Corner shot b-comes 23.9."

What do you make of Jackson's rule change suggestion?

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 5:40 PM.