The rim and corner three rule modern basketball
NBA shot charts reveal that points per shot peaks at the rim and in the corner three-point area. At the rim (within 2 feet), efficiency approaches 70%, reflecting the high success rate of layups and dunks. Corner threes are worth 3 points and are hit at a higher percentage than wing or top-of-arc threes, making them the second-most efficient zone. The long two-pointer is the worst efficiency zone on the floor, neither close enough for high success rate nor valuable enough in points.
How teams optimize shot selection
Modern offenses concentrate shots in high-efficiency zones. Players are encouraged to drive to the rim or pass to corner shooters rather than settle for mid-range attempts. This spatial optimization explains the historical shift from 1990s basketball (mid-range heavy) to 2020s basketball (threes and dunks). Teams that concentrate shots in high-efficiency zones score more, all else equal.