Helena Frye
A 50-foot shot in basketball is an extremely difficult feat, considered the lowest percentage shot in the game. The distance is longer than the length of the court in high schools, which are 84 feet long, and is even longer than half of a professional or college basketball court, which are 94 feet long. The physics of basketball shots show that the launch speed and angle are determined by the distance from the goal, and more force is needed for longer shots. The difficulty of the 50-foot shot is demonstrated by the fact that it is rarely attempted by NBA players, who only try shots from beyond half-court a few hundred times each season, making approximately 1 out of 100 of those shots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance of a 50-foot shot in basketball | Half the length of a full-court (94 feet) or the distance from the basket to the three-point line and a bit further |
| Distance of a half-court shot | 47 feet |
| Distance of a free throw line shot | 15 feet |
| Distance of a three-point shot | 23 feet and 9 inches |
| Longest basketball shot in history | 109 feet and 9 inches by Thunder Law |
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What You'll Learn
A 50-foot shot is a half-court shot
A 50-foot shot in basketball is a half-court shot. The half-court line is halfway between each end line of a basketball court. The NBA court, the largest of any level of basketball, is 94 feet long, making the half-court line 47 feet from each baseline. A half-court shot is, therefore, any shot taken from beyond this line.
Half-court shots are considered the lowest percentage shot in basketball. NBA players attempt shots from beyond the half-court line a few hundred times each season, with only about 1 in 100 of those shots made. They are most commonly used as a "'buzzer beater', where there is limited time before a turnover.
In some instances, NBA players will avoid shooting a half-court shot before the buzzer to protect their field goal percentage, which is accounted for during contract negotiations. As a result, some believe that half-court shots should not be included in the field goal percentage. However, a player who can consistently make half-court shots can open up many options for their team, especially for quarter or game-ending plays.
There have been several notable half-court shots in basketball history. During the 1999 WNBA Championship, New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon made a 50-foot shot with only 2.4 seconds left in the game to force a decisive Game 3. In 2014, Harlem Globetrotter Thunder Law set the Guinness World Record for the longest basketball shot at 109 feet and 9 inches, over three times the distance of a half-court shot.
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The physics of shooting a 50-foot shot
The physics of shooting a basketball involves many factors, and shooting from a 50-foot distance is no different. In fact, a 50-foot shot in basketball is an incredibly challenging feat, requiring a deep understanding of the physics of shooting.
The two main factors that determine the distance a basketball will travel are launch speed and launch angle. Launch speed is determined by the amount of force applied to the ball. The force required to get the ball to the goal depends on the distance to the goal. For instance, a 2-foot shot requires a launch speed of around 10 miles per hour, while a 3-point shot needs about 18 miles per hour. Therefore, for a 50-foot shot, an even greater force and speed are necessary.
The launch angle, or the angle at which the ball is released towards the basket, is also critical. A 0-degree angle is when your arm is straight out and parallel to the floor, while a 90-degree angle is when your arm is straight up, pointing to the ceiling. The ideal launch angle for a slow-moving ball as it approaches the rim is influenced by the player's height and distance from the goal. Taller players will generally have lower ideal launch angles, with a 6'8" player requiring a launch angle of about 49.4 degrees, while a 5'4" player would need around 52.2 degrees. The launch angle also affects the target area, with higher angles providing a larger target.
The height of the player and the release height of the shot are additional factors that come into play. The release height is largely determined by the player's height, with taller players able to get more height on their shots. This can be advantageous as it provides a larger target area, but it also requires more force to propel the ball higher.
Shooting a basketball is an optimization process, and players must experiment to find the right balance of launch speed and launch angle that works for them. For example, James Harden, who stands at 6'5", has been known to shoot with a 49.6-degree launch angle, which is optimal for his height to achieve a slow-moving ball. On the other hand, Stephen Curry utilizes a higher launch angle of about 58.1 degrees, opting for a larger target area rather than a slow-moving ball.
A 50-foot shot in basketball, which is about the length of the court in the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA, demands a deep understanding of these physical principles, as well as a great deal of skill and practice.
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The percentage of 50-foot shots that are made
A 50-foot shot in basketball is an extremely difficult shot to make. These shots are considered the lowest percentage shot in basketball. In fact, outside of 6 feet, there is no place on the court where shooters make more than 45% of their shots.
Collectively, NBA players attempt shots from beyond half-court a few hundred times each season, and only about 1 in 100 of those shots are made. A 50-foot shot is attempted roughly 25% of the time to finish the first, second, or third quarter, but it is much rarer in the fourth quarter. In some instances, players will intentionally avoid shooting a 50-foot shot before the buzzer, as they are more interested in protecting their field goal percentage than providing an opportunity for their team to score 3 more points.
Since field goal percentage is taken into account during contract negotiations, some players think it is a smart business decision to refuse to take a low-percentage shot. As a result, some believe that 50-foot shots should not be included in the field goal percentage.
One notable example of a successful 50-foot shot was during the 1999 WNBA Championship. New York's Teresa Weatherspoon received the ball about 50 feet (15 m) away from her team's basket and made the shot, giving the Liberty a 69-68 win and forcing a decisive game 3.
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The record for the farthest 50-foot shot
While this shot by Weatherspoon is notable for its distance, half-court shots are considered to be the lowest percentage shot in basketball. NBA players attempt shots from beyond half-court a few hundred times each season, with approximately only 1 in 100 of those shots made.
There have been several other notable long-distance shots in the NBA. On February 27, 2024, Max Strus made a 59-foot game-winning buzzer-beater against the Dallas Mavericks, the second-longest in NBA history. On December 16, 2021, Devonte Graham made a 61-foot game-winning buzzer-beater against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the longest in NBA history at the time.
Outside of official games, several records for the farthest basketball shot have been set. The current Guinness World Record for the longest basketball shot is held by Corey "Thunder" Law of the Harlem Globetrotters, who made a shot from 109 feet 9 inches (33.45 m) in 2013. Law also holds the record for the farthest backward shot, making a shot from 82 feet 2 inches (25.04 m).
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The longest 50-foot shot in the NBA
A 50-foot shot in basketball is an impressive feat, and when it comes to the NBA, there have been some remarkable long-range efforts over the years. While a 50-foot shot is already an extraordinary achievement, let's explore the details of some of the NBA's longest 50-foot shots and beyond.
One notable instance of a long-distance shot occurred in 2023 when the Philadelphia 76ers trailed the Boston Celtics with only 1.3 seconds left on the clock. Joel Embiid, in a desperate attempt to turn the tides, launched a shot from beyond 50 feet, although the exact distance is unclear. This play didn't make it into the record books for the longest 50-foot shot, but it's a testament to the drama and skill of NBA basketball.
When discussing long-range shots, we can't forget about the iconic "The Shot" by Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty in the 1999 WNBA Championship. With only 2.4 seconds left and her team trailing 68-66, Weatherspoon received the ball 50 feet away from her team's basket. Her successful last-second heave forced a decisive Game 3, and although Houston ultimately won the series, "The Shot" remains an unforgettable moment in WNBA history, even being named the best moment in WNBA playoff history by ESPN.
Moving closer to the 50-foot mark, Max Strus of the Cleveland Cavaliers authored a remarkable moment in NBA history. On February 27, 2024, with the game against the Dallas Mavericks on the line, Strus sank a 59-foot buzzer-beater to secure a thrilling 121-119 victory. This shot stands as the second-longest in NBA history, an incredible achievement.
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for—the longest 50-foot shot in the NBA. That honour currently belongs to Pelicans guard Devonte Graham, who, on December 16, 2021, made an astonishing 61-foot game-winning buzzer-beater against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This record-breaking shot not only secured a 113-110 victory for the Pelicans but also etched Graham's name into the NBA record books.
While we've focused on shots in the 50-foot range and beyond, it's worth noting that the NBA has seen even longer shots. The Harlem Globetrotters' Thunder Law holds the Guinness World Record for the longest basketball shot at an incredible 109 feet and 9 inches. Additionally, Ziaire Williams of the Memphis Grizzlies may have come close to surpassing Graham's record, with a reported 79-foot to 86-foot shot in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
A 50-foot shot in basketball is a shot taken from 50 feet away from the basket. This is the width of a standard NBA, WNBA, college, or high school basketball court.
In 1995, NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Fame member Moses Malone made a half-court shot (approximately 47 feet) during his final career game against the Charlotte Hornets. In 2015, Jae Crowder of the Boston Celtics made a 94-foot shot, which didn't count as he was out-of-bounds. On December 16, 2021, Devonte Graham made a 61-foot game-winning shot, the longest in NBA history at the time. On February 27, 2024, Max Strus made a 59-foot game-winning shot, the second-longest in NBA history.
A 50-foot shot is a very low-percentage shot and requires a lot of force and launch speed. Players should experiment with different launch angles and arcs to find what works best for them. It takes familiarity with the court and reference points to gauge distances accurately.
