The Elam Ending has been around for quite a while with The Basketball Tournament helping popularize the end-of-game format beginning in 2018, and now it looks like the NBA is getting in on the experiment – at least for the G League.
On Thursday, the NBA G League announced that the it will be using Elam Ending format for overtime games during 2022-23 season instead of a standard timed overtime period, according to ESPN.
While a standard basketball game ends when the clock hits zero, the Elam Ending instead sets a target score that teams must hit in order to win. This G League season, instead of a running clock in overtime, the target score will be seven more points than the teams scored in regulation. The first team to score seven points in overtime wins.
The Elam Ending brings added excitment, allowing every game to end on a game-winner, but it also leads to a cleaner end-of-game scenario. Instead of trailing teams fouling and sending their opponents to the free-throw line to extend the game, the Elam Ending means they simply keep playing defense. It also forces leading teams to actively try to win instead of simply sitting on leads and trying to run clock at the end of the game.
While it’s a new change for the G League, the Elam Ending has been embraced across the basketball world. The ending began with TBT on ESPN and since spread to the NBA All-Star game, and fans seem to love it.
We’re probably a long way off from its use in a meaningful college or NBA game, but the Elam Ending is a fun wrinkle.
[ESPN]
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