The institution of the 3 point line is probably the second most significant change, behind the shot clock, since the invention of basketball. Nicknamed the great equalizer, the 3 point line helped NBA teams make comebacks in games in which they trailed by large margins and it allowed smaller, less talented college teams to challenge bigger, more athletic teams. The 3 point line was originally used a gimmick by the now defunct ABA to draw audiences away from the NBA. The ABA was not as financially stable as the NBA so the league ultimately merged with NBA, but the popularity of the ABA's style led NBA officials to adopt the use of the 3 point line in 1979.
When the NBA adopted the 3 point line, the worlds greatest shooter at the time, Larry Bird, took his skills to All-Star weekend to wow the crowed as he defended his title as 3 point shooting champion.