Can you imagine the NBA without the three point shot?

This may be the future of the league if reports out of the Arizona Republic end up becoming a reality, with the NBA looking at eliminating the three point shot until late in the game.

According to NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson the league may trial the rule NBA's developmental league this season in hopes of increasing shooting percentages.  Under the proposal a three pointer would only be worth three points in the final five minutes of a game.

"We've talked about it," Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations said. "We're wrestling with the idea." "I don't want to jump that far ahead," he said. "It's a very radical change, certainly one that would take a great deal of time to get support if there were positive aspects."

'Banning the 3-point shot until late in the game might lead to a more up-tempo style and higher shooting percentages because players would be encouraged to take shots closer to the basket. It also would stop players on fast breaks from pulling up for a shot from the three-point line instead of going for layups.'

The 3-point shot was brought into the NBA in 1979.

Last season the NBA shot 34.7 percent from behind the 3-point line.

"I kind of liked the 3-pointer before every player on every team was a 3-point shooter," Steve Kerr, who won five NBA championships, said in a telephone interview. "It's being shot way too often these days and it's hurting the game. I wouldn't mind seeing an experiment that gets rid of it."