Kristian Ferrell
The three-point line in basketball is a line that indicates the distance from the basket where a player can shoot and earn three points. The distance to the three-point line varies depending on the competition level and has changed over time. For example, in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the three-point line is currently 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 meters) from the center of the basket, while in other organizations such as FIBA, WNBA, NCAA, and NAIA, the distance is 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 meters). The three-point line has had a significant impact on the way basketball is played, with offenses becoming more spread out and creating more opportunities for players to attack the basket.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| National Basketball Association (NBA) | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) |
| International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) | 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) |
| National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) |
| NCAA DI men's game | 22 feet, 1¾ inches |
| College basketball | 20 feet 9 inches |
| High school basketball | 19 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Big Sky | 22 ft (6.71 m) |
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What You'll Learn
History of the three-point line
The concept of the three-point line in basketball was first proposed in the 1930s by Howard Hobson, who later coached the University of Oregon to a national championship in 1939. However, it wasn't until the 1940s that the idea began to gain traction. In 1945, Hobson organised a scrimmage between Columbia and Fordham, which was the first basketball game to implement a three-point line. He painted an arc 21 feet from each basket, and shots made from behind it were worth three points each.
The first professional basketball league to implement a three-point line was the short-lived American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. The ABL commissioner, Abe Saperstein, wanted to add excitement to the game and set the three-point line at 25 feet from the basket. The ABL lasted for the entire 1961-62 season and part-way through the next season before folding. After the ABL shut down in 1963, the three-point shot was adopted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League in the 1963-64 season. It was also popularised by the American Basketball Association (ABA), which introduced it in its inaugural 1967-68 season.
In 1979, the NBA adopted the three-point line, initially on a one-year trial basis for the 1979-80 season. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics made the first three-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979. The three-point line was positioned at a distance of 22 feet from the hoop in the corners and 23 feet, nine inches to the top of the arc.
In collegiate basketball, the NCAA's Southern Conference became the first conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot line for the 1980-81 season. Over the following years, the distance required for a three-pointer varied across different NCAA conferences. The NCAA adopted the three-pointer in women's basketball on an experimental basis for the 1986-87 season, and it became mandatory beginning in the 1987-88 season.
In 2007, the NCAA lengthened the men's three-point line to 20 feet, 9 inches, with the women's line moved to match in 2011-12. In 2010, the international governing body of basketball, FIBA, adjusted the three-point line distance to its current distance of 6.75 meters (approximately 22.15 feet).
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Differences in competition distances
The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies across different basketball competitions. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has the largest court dimensions, with the three-point line at 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 metres) from the centre of the basket. This is the same distance that was used in the first instance of the three-point line in the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961. However, the ABL owners later voted to shorten the line to 22 feet (6.71 metres), and the NBA has not followed suit.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) all use a three-point line that is 6.75 metres (22 feet 1.75 inches) from the centre of the basket. This distance is also used in international basketball.
In the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the three-point line is shorter at 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 metres) from the centre of the basket. This is also the distance used in elementary and middle schools.
The distance of the three-point line has been a subject of change over time, with the NCAA moving the line back to 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 metres) for the 2019-2020 season, matching the international distance. Prior to this, the distance was 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 metres), which was already a one-foot increase from the previous distance of 19 feet 9 inches (5.41 to 6.02 metres) used from 1986 to 2008.
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How it affects gameplay
The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies depending on the competition level. In the NBA, the distance is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the centre of the basket. In other competitions such as FIBA, WNBA, NCAA, and NAIA, the distance is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in). The distance in high school basketball is shorter at 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m).
The three-point line has had a significant impact on the way basketball is played, especially in the NBA. The introduction of the three-pointer has led to a more spread-out style of offense, with more space in the paint, allowing players to attack the basket more easily. The three-point line also gives smaller players a chance to compete by utilizing their shooting skills.
The value of a three-pointer is higher than that of a two-pointer, which encourages teams to shoot more three-pointers to maximize their scoring output. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of three-pointers attempted and made per game.
Adjusting to the three-point line distance is one of the biggest challenges for players transitioning from college or high school to professional basketball. Changes to the three-point line distance, such as those made in college basketball in 2008 and 2019, can also impact gameplay. For example, moving the line back can cause a drop in three-point shooting percentages while opening up driving lanes and post play.
The three-point line has added excitement to the game and contributed to the popularity of basketball worldwide. It has become an essential part of the game, with coaches and players developing strategies to maximize its value.
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The three-point line in college basketball
The three-point line in basketball has evolved over the years, with the distance from the basket varying across different leagues and competition levels. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has made significant changes to the three-point line in college basketball, impacting the game's dynamics and strategies.
The concept of the three-point line was first introduced in the 1940s and gradually gained popularity. In 1980, the NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to adopt the three-point rule, with a 22-foot line. However, the adoption of the three-point line in college basketball varied across different conferences, with distances ranging from 17 feet 9 inches to 22 feet.
In 1986, the NCAA standardised the three-point line distance for men's basketball at 19 feet 9 inches, which was first used in the NCAA tournament in March 1987. The women's three-point line distance was also set at 19 feet 9 inches for the 1987-88 season. This standardisation brought consistency to college basketball across different conferences.
Over time, the three-point shot became increasingly popular in college basketball. In 2007, the NCAA lengthened the men's three-point line by one foot to 20 feet 9 inches, effective from the 2008-09 season. This change was implemented to address the growing impact of the three-pointer, which had become a valuable shot in college basketball strategies. The women's line was also moved to match the men's line in the 2011-12 season.
In 2019, the NCAA once again made a significant adjustment to the three-point line, adopting the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) three-point line distance of 22 feet 1.75 inches for men's basketball. This change brought the NCAA in line with other international and professional basketball organisations. The new distance was phased in, starting with Division I in the 2019-20 season.
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Abe Saperstein and the ABL
Abe Saperstein was born in the East End of London, England, to a Jewish family originally from Poland. In 1907, when Abe was five, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. As a high school student, Saperstein played baseball, basketball, and track. He took a coaching job in the city's parks, where he met athletes and coaches from across the city.
In 1928, Saperstein arrived on the horizon of basketball history as a coach of the Savoy Big Five, named after Chicago's famous Savoy Ballroom. The team consisted entirely of African Americans and was deemed a failure. However, Saperstein's persistence paid off, and the Harlem Globetrotters evolved from this series of teams. Saperstein put "Harlem" in the name so that the mostly white towns they visited would know a Black team was coming, avoiding any unpleasant surprises.
Saperstein founded the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 and served as its commissioner. He owned the league's Chicago Majors team and the popular Globetrotters, giving him significant power in the league. Saperstein introduced several innovations to differentiate the ABL from the NBA and promote the new league, including widening the free-throw lane to 18 feet and creating the three-point shot. He selected 25 feet as the distance for the new shot line, in collaboration with DePaul University coach Ray Meyer.
The ABL was the first league to use a trapezoidal, wider lane, a 30-second shot clock, and the three-point shot. Despite its innovations, the ABL only lasted from 1961 to 1963. During its short existence, the ABL broke racial barriers by hiring John McLendon as the first African-American head coach in a major professional league. The league also featured notable players like Connie Hawkins and Bill Bridges, and coaches like Jack McMahon and Bill Sharman, many of whom later joined the NBA.
After the ABL's dissolution, the three-point shot took over 15 years to gain wide acceptance. However, it was eventually adopted by the ABA and the NBA, becoming a central part of their image and gameplay. Saperstein's legacy extends beyond the ABL, as he contributed to the Negro Leagues, the NBA, and the integration of baseball's major leagues. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
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Frequently asked questions
The 3-point line in the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the centre of the basket.
The arc in the WNBA is 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 m) from the centre of the basket.
The college 3-point line was moved back to 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 m) for the 2019-2020 season. Before this, it was 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 m).
The 3-point line in high school basketball is 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m) from the centre of the basket.
