Can You Score a 6 Pointer in Basketball?

As a passionate basketball fan myself, extraordinary scoring performances have always left me in awe. The quick shot releases, athletic drives to the rim, and seeming inability to miss during hot streaks show basketball skill at its highest level.

So for those curious minds out there wondering just how far scoring can be pushed – can you score a 6-pointer in basketball? Let‘s break things down…

Scoring Fundamentals: What‘s Possible in a Single Possession

While individual point totals have exceed 100 points in a game, scoring is limited on a per possession basis:

• 1 point – Made free throw
• 2 points – Made field goal inside the 3-point line
• 3 points – Made field goal behind the 3-point line
• 4 points – Made 3-pointer while being fouled (1 free throw)
• 5 points – Made 3-pointer while being flagrantly fouled (2 free throws)

So during a single trip down the floor, 5 points is mathematically the maximum.

In summary – you cannot score 6 points in a single possession under standard basketball rules.

But could the rules evolve over time to allow more? Let‘s speculate…

Presumptive Analysis: Could 6 Pointers Become Reality?

While a 6-pointer sounds farfetched currently, the 3-point line was also controversial when first introduced.

So what are the chances the 6-pointer gets integrated?

Based on the current structure of the game, I‘d estimate the chances are less than 5% in the next 10 years. However, if scoring levels declined substantially, rules committees might consider this.

The NBA has been focused on opening up offenses and emphasizing three-point shooting to drive fan engagement. But this pace and space era shows no signs of slowing.

Unless fans and executives want more 120-115 games, I just don‘t see the necessity from a competition standpoint. Not to mention, players would need to develop even deeper range.

So in my personal opinion, 6-pointers will remain the stuff of video games and playground fantasies for now.

Highest Scoring Performances Show 5 is Rare Air

Even though 6 pointers seem unrealistic currently, players have pushed the limits of perimeter scoring.

The greatest 3-point barrage came from Klay Thompson who scored 37 points in just ONE QUARTER on 13-13 shooting from deep. That type of supernatural shooting can make you wonder what‘s possible.

Meanwhile, the legendary Wilt Chamberlain put up 100 points in 1962 by relentlessly attacking inside. Different era with different tactics – but the results are staggering either way.

Here‘s a look at some of the highest single possession scoring performances:

As we can see, even 8 points on a single possession is monumentally rare. So while I‘d never say never, 6-pointers seem distant unless basketball undergoes massive changes.

The Takeaway: Appreciate the Greatness We Can Witness

While 6-pointers might not be imminent, there‘s no shortage of scoring prodigies displaying once-in-a-generation talent.

Today we have the luxury of watching Steph Curry reinvent long-range shooting or players like Luka Doncic dropping 40-point triple-doubles before their 25th birthdays!

Each era produces basketball icons who amaze us by testing assumed limits. What used to seem ordinary becomes extraordinary over time.

So while we may daydream about 113-109 scorelines, sometimes the most incredible aspects are the ones right in front of our eyes. Just something to think about the next time a player gets scorching hot.

What scoring records do you think could be broken in the next 10 years? Which young players seem poised to join the upper echelon? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!