Every second counts in basketball, especially when the clock winds down. End-of-quarter heaves can turn a close game into a highlight reel moment. Remember Baron Davis’ 89-foot miracle in 2001? Or J.R. Smith’s 40-foot halftime buzzer-beater in 2015? Even recently, Josh Giddey stunned fans by stealing from LeBron James and sinking a half-court winner for the Bulls. Then there was Aaron Gordon in 2025, catching a Nikola Jokic airball mid-air to dunk it just before the buzzer. Moments like these remind us that one shot can define victory or defeat. However, part of the NBA community clearly believes legends such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James have been reluctant to take those attempts.

Nikola Jokic though, has never been shy. Last season, he led the league with 22 heave attempts, surpassing Stephen Curry’s previous record of 20. In total, he attempted 25 shots fitting the “heave” criteria and made three. Jokić seems to enjoy the challenge, prioritizing team opportunities over personal statistics. Without his heaves, his three-point shooting percentage would have been even higher than 41.7%. But while it tanked his stats previously, it seems that the latest change might vindicate the 6′ 11″ Nuggets center.

The NBA recently announced a change that might encourage players to do just that. According to Shams Charania, “The NBA will implement a new change for the 2025-26 season: unsuccessful end-of-period heaves will now be recorded as a missed field-goal attempt for the team, not the player.” Previously, these shots hurt a player’s individual percentage, causing many to avoid them according to fans. The new rule, tested during Summer League, could bring more buzzer-beaters and encourage bold play. Could this finally make those low-percentage shots worth taking more often?

Analysis of this rule shows why it is significant. The criteria for a heave include the final three seconds of a quarter, a shot beyond 36 feet, and starting from the backcourt. Last season, NBA players combined for 640 such attempts but made only 25. By removing the penalty from player stats, the league hopes that the players might embrace riskier shots. Surprisingly, as the news came out, it was stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant who found themselves under the fire.

Fans weigh in as Nikola Jokic leads the way with the NBA’s new heave rule

The NBA is much more than a game played on the court. Behind every possession, there is a science of numbers, analytics, and stats. This can often push players to play cautiously, preserving percentages rather than risking a low-percentage shot. Fans have noticed how this mentality sometimes keeps elite players from attempting buzzer-beaters. Nikola Jokic, however, has never let stats dictate his decisions. So as the new rules came up, old criticisms surrounding LeBron James and Kevin Durant also ended up sprouting up at the same time.

Some fans couldn’t resist pointing out how they all handle this risk differently, and Lebron and Durant wouldn’t like what some of the fans had to say. Durant has especially not attempted a long heave since the 2017-18 season, something this fan pointed out, “Durant can now go back to shooting heaves after not taking a single one since 2018 because he’s more concerned about his shooting % than helping his team win. Jokic, by the way, led the NBA with 22 last season in an example of someone who actually values winning over stats.”

This reaction highlights the contrast between Jokic’s fearless mindset and players who prioritize stats. Fans clearly admire Jokic for putting team success above personal numbers. Similar data does not seem to be available about LeBron, on the other hand. Still, some took the chance to take a shot at LeBron as well. One joked, “LeBron gonna start taking these now 😂” Fans love seeing elite players embrace unpredictability, imagining buzzer-beater excitement returning to the NBA with every end-of-quarter play.

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Others focused on how the rule directly benefits Jokic’s statistical profile. A fan shared, “This is a meaningful statistical buff for Nikola Jokic. He took 22 heaves last year. No other player took more than 12. If you remove his 20 misses, he would’ve shot 44.3% on 3’s compared to the 41.7% he wound up with in reality.” By framing the reaction this way, it shows how the new rule validates Jokic’s risk-taking while making his stats look even stronger. Fans appreciate that the league is finally rewarding bold plays rather than punishing them.

Other fans pointed out the hypothetical effect the rule would have had last season. One wrote, “Nikola Jokic was a career-best 41.7% from 3 last season including a 2-for-22 clip on heave attempts, so he would’ve been 44% if the new rule had been instituted one year earlier.” This reaction underscores how the rule validates Jokic’s team-first mentality. Fans appreciate that taking big shots without fearing a personal stat hit is now recognized and celebrated.

Finally, fans reflected on the mindset shift this rule encourages. One fan wrote, “Imagine not throwing up a shot at the buzzer to try and be lucky and help your teams score because you care about your FG%.” This reaction captures frustration with overly cautious play and celebrates Jokic’s fearless approach, showing that taking risks for the team is now encouraged and recognized. This could restore the buzzer-beater excitement fans have been craving, making every end-of-quarter possession more thrilling.