NBA Reportedly Will Implement Stat Rule Change for End-of-Period Heaves in 2025-26

After test runs in the G League and Summer League, a new rule is reportedly set to be implemented for end-of-period heaves during the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, buzzer-beating heaves at the end of quarters will now count as a missed field-goal attempt for the team, but it will not count as a field-goal attempt for the player who shoots it.

Charania added that the NBA Competition Committee had been in support of the change in hopes of encouraging more players to attempt the heaves without worrying about a miss negatively impacting their shooting percentage.

On the heels of testing the rule during the 2024-25 G League season, the NBA announced in July that an additional test would occur during the 2025 Summer League.

As seen in the diagram provided by NBA Communications, multiple qualifications must be met for a shot to be considered an end-of-period heave that doesn't count against a player's stats:

The shot must be taken in the final three seconds of one of the first three quarters, the play has to have originated in the backcourt, and the shot has to have been taken from at least 36 feet away.

That means any shot from just inside halfcourt or further can qualify for the heave rule, provided the other criteria are met as well.

The change is significant for players since it isn't uncommon for contracts to include incentives based on overall field-goal percentage or three-point shooting percentage.

Because of that, it is understandable why some players may have been hesitant to throw up a desperation shot and risk hurting their percentages and costing themselves money.

The heave rule takes that out of the equation and essentially incentivizes players to attempt low-percentage shots, which could result in more highlight-reel plays.

On Oct. 2, the 2025-26 NBA preseason schedule will begin, followed by opening night of the regular season on Oct. 21 when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors.