Harlem Globetrotters To Introduce Basketball's First-Ever 4-point Line During 91st Season

Six years after establishing the 4-point shot, basketball's most entertaining team will debut the sport's first 4-point line during the 2017 season

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Harlem Globetrotters

Sep 22, 2016, 07:40 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Continually pushing and expanding the sport of basketball, the Harlem Globetrotters have once again set a new mark. Or rather, a new distance.

Beginning in 2017, the Globetrotters will debut basketball's first-ever 4-point line, a move that comes six years after the team unveiled the 4-point shot to worldwide acclaim. The 4-point line will be located 30 feet from the basket – 6 feet, 3 inches beyond the top of the NBA's current 3-point line. The Globetrotters previously used a four-point circle, two on each side of the court, to designate a four-point shot since they first introduced it in 2010.

"The 'long-range shot' is changing basketball at all levels and it's one of the most exciting shots in the game," said Globetrotters President Howard Smith. "The creation of the 4-point line shows that once again, the Harlem Globetrotters are ahead of the curve when it comes to basketball innovation. Whether it's popularizing the slam dunk, the alley-oop, the 3-point shot and now the 4-point shot, the Globetrotters have been creating new ways for fans to enjoy the game for 90 years."

The 4-point line will make its debut when the Globetrotters tip off their 2017 World Tour December 26^th and will play in over 250 North American markets as well as 30 countries worldwide.

"We have some of the best long-range shooters in basketball, so adding a 4-point line will enhance the experience and level of play that fans already see night in and night out," said Globetrotters Director of Player Personnel "Sweet" Lou Dunbar. "It's going to be a terrific addition to the 2017 tour, and a great way to showcase the extraordinary talent of basketball's most entertaining stars."

By instituting a 4-point line, the Globetrotters once again heard what people are looking for when it comes to basketball. A 2015 independent survey showed that 72-percent of fans wanted to see a 4-point line at the professional level. Numerous national sports writers and personalities, including HBO's Bill Simmons, have been trumpeting the addition of a 4-point line to the game.

In fact, during last season when Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry broke all sorts of NBA 3-point records, he would have shot 43.2 percent (16-for-37, with 64 points scored) from the new Globetrotters 4-point line.

As the shot – and distance – has picked up steam among basketball conversation circles, current professional players have embraced the idea first instituted by the Globetrotters. Portland Trail Blazers all-star Damian Lillard told the Dan Patrick Show he would "absolutely" be in favor of a 4-point line in the league.

"We're just giving the fans what they want," Smith said. "People want to see skill and talent rewarded while enjoying the game of basketball. We provide that every day. Now, with this innovation, there's another reason to come see the Harlem Globetrotters."

The Harlem Globetrotters® are legendary worldwide, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills for the past 90 years. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. Sponsored by Baden Sports, Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter @Globies.

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SOURCE Harlem Globetrotters