1947pace
Elimination of Center Jump After Each Basket
The Rule Change
The BAA eliminated the requirement for a center jump ball after every made basket, a holdover from the original Naismith rules. Instead, the opposing team would simply inbound the ball after a score, as in the modern game.
Statistical Impact
Dramatically increased the pace of play by removing a time-consuming stoppage after every made basket. This was arguably the single most important pace rule in basketball history — without it, the game would remain a plodding, jump-ball-dominated affair rather than a continuous flow sport.