Helena Frye
The three-point line in basketball is one of the most exciting aspects of the game, adding a layer of complexity and strategy. The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies depending on the league and level of play. In the NBA, the three-point line is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 meters) from the basket, with a shorter 22-foot (6.71-meter) line at the corners. The FIBA three-point line, used in international basketball, is 6.75 meters from the basket, with a 0.90-meter buffer from the sideline. The NCAA men's three-point line is currently set at 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters), with variations in high school and lower levels of play.
Characteristics and Values of Men's 3-Point Basketball Measurements
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Competition Level | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Arc Distance from Basket | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket |
| Arc Distance from Sideline | 3 feet (0.91 m) from the sideline |
| Minimum Distance from Center | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Corner Distance from Center | 22 feet (6.71 m) |
| Free Throw Distance from Backboard | 15 feet (4.57 m) |
| Free Throw Distance from Center of Hoop | 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 m) |
| Free Throw Distance from Front Rim | 13 feet (3.96 m) |
| Straight Corner 3-Point Line Length | 14 feet (4.27 m) |
| FIBA Arc Distance | 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the center of the basket |
| NCAA 3-Point Line | 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 m) |
| High School 3-Point Line | 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m) |
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What You'll Learn
The three-point line distance in the NBA
The three-point line was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL), which was the first basketball league to institute the rule. The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies depending on the competition level. For example, in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the arc is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the center of the basket.
In 1994, Dale Ellis became the first NBA player to reach 1,000 career three-pointers. In the 1997-98 season, the NBA reverted the line to its original distance of 23 ft 9 in (22 ft at the corners, with a 3-inch differential). In the three seasons leading up to the new rule, teams averaged 105.6 points per game, which fell to 100.8 in the three seasons with the shorter three-point line.
The NCAA and NAIA arc is the same distance from the center of the basket as the FIBA arc but is 3 feet 4 inches (1.02 m) from each sideline because the North American court is slightly wider than the FIBA court.
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FIBA three-point line distance
The three-point line in basketball is an arc at each end of the court, from which a shot is worth three points. The three-point line was introduced by FIBA, the sport's international governing body, in 1984, with a distance of 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in) from the basket. FIBA increased this distance to 6.75 m (22 ft 1.7 in) in 2010, following a rules change announced in 2008.
The three-point line distance varies by competition level. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the three-point line is 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) from the centre of the basket. In FIBA, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the three-point line is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the centre of the basket. In the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the three-point line is 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) from the centre of the basket.
The FIBA three-point line is 2.95 ft (0.90 m) from the sideline, in a zone starting at the baseline and ending when it crosses the 22.1 ft (6.7 m) arc. The 21.65 ft (6.6 m) distance exists only at points on the three-point line directly to the left and right of the basket centre. The minimum distance from the sideline specified by FIBA is 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in), resulting in a minimum distance from the centre of the basket of 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in).
The three-point line distance has changed over time. FIBA introduced the three-point line in 1984, and it made its Olympic debut in 1988. The NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot (6.71 m) line for the 1980-81 season. The NCAA adopted the three-point rule in 1986 for the 1986-87 season, with a distance of 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m). The NCAA lengthened the men's distance to 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m) for the 2008-09 season, and the women's line was moved to match in 2011-12. The NBA adopted the three-point line in 1979-80, with a variable distance ranging from 22 ft (6.7 m) in the corners to 23.75 ft (7.24 m) behind the top of the key. During the 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1996-97 seasons, the NBA attempted to increase scoring by shortening the three-point line to a uniform 22 ft (6.7 m) around the basket. However, this change was reverted from the 1997-98 season, returning the three-point line to its original distance.
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NCAA three-point line distance
The three-point line in basketball is a crucial element of the game, and its distance from the basket has evolved over time. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has made adjustments to the three-point line distance in men's college basketball, which has had a significant impact on the game.
The history of the three-point line in the NCAA dates back to the 1980-81 season when the Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to adopt it, using a 22-foot (6.71-meter) line. Initially, there was variation among NCAA conferences regarding the use of the rule and the required distance for a three-pointer. The line was as close as 17 feet 9 inches (5.41 meters) in the Atlantic Coast Conference and as far as 22 feet (6.71 meters) in the Big Sky Conference.
In April 1986, the NCAA standardised the three-point line distance for all divisions, setting it at 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 meters) for the 1986-87 season. This rule was first applied in the NCAA tournament in March 1987. The following season, the NCAA adopted the three-pointer in women's basketball as well, initially on an experimental basis.
Over time, the NCAA has made adjustments to the three-point line distance. In 2007, the men's three-point line was extended by a foot to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters) for the 2008-09 season. This change brought the NCAA closer to the international distance specified by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The women's line was later moved to match the men's in the 2011-12 season.
In 2019, the NCAA announced a further adjustment, adopting the FIBA three-point line distance of 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 meters) for all men's play, starting with Division I in the 2019-20 season. This change aligned the NCAA with international standards and created consistency with other basketball associations, such as the WNBA and NAIA, which had already adopted the FIBA distance. The impact of this change on college basketball was significant, affecting shooting percentages and game strategies.
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High school three-point line distance
The three-point line distance in high school basketball is shorter than in college or professional leagues. In high school, the three-point line is 19 feet 9 inches from the centre of the basket, whereas in the NCAA and NAIA, it is 20 feet 9 inches, and in the NBA, it is 23 feet 9 inches. The high school three-point line has not changed since 1987, when the NFHS adopted a distance of 19 feet 9 inches.
The three-point line is one of the biggest adjustments for shooters as they progress from high school to college or professional basketball. The high school court is also a full 10 feet shorter than college and professional courts, measuring 84 feet long and 50 feet wide. The basket is 10 feet off the ground, and there is no restricted area under the basket as there is in college and professional leagues.
The tip-off circle in high school basketball has a six-foot radius, and the foul line is 15 feet from the backboard. The key is 19 feet long, and the backboard protrudes four feet out from the baseline. The backboard itself is six feet wide and 42 inches high.
The three-point line forms an arc stretching from one side of the baseline to the other. Every three-point line becomes parallel to each sideline at specified points along the arc. In the NBA and WNBA, this distance is three feet from the sideline, but the North American court is slightly wider than the FIBA court, so the NCAA and NAIA arc is 3 feet 4 inches from each sideline.
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WNBA three-point line distance
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the three-point line is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 metres) from the centre of the basket. In the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the three-point line is 6.75 metres (22 feet 1.75 inches) from the centre of the basket. This distance is 3 feet (0.91 metres) from the sideline, and the distance from the centre of the basket gradually decreases to a minimum of 22 feet (6.7 metres).
The WNBA basketball is an inch smaller and 2 ounces lighter than the NBA basketball.
The three-point line consists of an arc at a set radius measured from the point on the floor directly below the centre of the basket. Two parallel lines are then drawn from the nearest end line to the point at which they intersect the arc. In the NBA, WNBA, NCAA or NAIA, and FIBA standards, the arc spans the width of the court until it is a specified minimum distance from each sideline. The three-point line then becomes parallel to the sidelines from those points to the baseline. This unusual formation allows players some space from which to attempt a three-point shot at the corners of the court.
A player's feet must be completely behind the three-point line at the time of the shot or jump in order to make a three-point attempt. If the player's feet are on or in front of the line, it is a two-point attempt. A player is allowed to jump from outside the line and land inside the line to make a three-point attempt, as long as the ball is released in mid-air.
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Frequently asked questions
The men's 3-point line in the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 metres) from the centre of the basket.
The men's 3-point line in FIBA competitions is 6.75 metres (22 feet 1.75 inches) from the centre of the basket.
The NCAA moved the men's 3-point line to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 metres) for the 2019-2020 season.
Yes, the 3-point line in high school basketball is 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 metres) from the centre of the basket.
