Shot that made its N.B.A. debut in 1979, slangily

TREY

Think of the number associated with a long-range basket worth more than two points.

This clue refers to the three-point shot in basketball, which was first introduced in the NBA during the 1979-80 season. "Trey" is slang for the number three, so it’s a casual term for a three-pointer. The wordplay is straightforward—just swapping the formal name for its street-smart nickname.