The term “Elam Ending” is a rule in basketball that describes how the game clock is turned off with only four minutes left on the clock. There is a target score that both teams are set to reach and once they have reached it, they won the match.
This term was originated by Professor Nick Elam from Ball State University, where its main purpose is to give the trailing team a fair chance to play good defense and to give the audience a more natural game ending.
Elam Ending vs. Game-Fouling
Many basketball enthusiasts thought that late-game fouling was not how the game should be finished.This is the reason why Professor Elam created an alternative to design a more natural game ending. Within four minutes, the team should establish at least 8 points.
For example, Elam Ending can work with a score of 80-72, where the two teams are required to play until either of them can reach 88. Without any clock to pressure them, trailing is allowed, rather than intentionally fouling their opponent.
The Concept of Elam Ending
Elam Ending has been widely accepted by international audiences because it changes their gaming experience.Just like in the 2019 Summer with All-Star members, Chris Paul mentioned that he recommended the Elam Ending to be implemented in the National Basketball Association.
In 2020, after the death of Kobe Bryant, different leagues from around the world went ahead with an Elam Ending to commemorate Bryant’s legacy left in the Basketball world.
All teams added a 24 score to the leading team, making it impossible for the losing team to cope with the score.
The Adaptation of Elam Ending
Although this rule was conceptualized in the later years, it still has been receiving positive reviews among basketball fans and the media.This rule was eventually adopted in New Zealand’s National Basketball League in the summer of 2020, where they’ll have to use the Elam Ending as a basis for who should win the match.
So far, the audiences were receptive to the rule and prefer this to the traditional Game-Fouling rule, because it’s more natural.