Helena Frye
The three-point line was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL), which was looking to distinguish itself from the NBA. However, it was not until 1986 that the NCAA adopted the rule for the 1986-87 season, with the three-point line set at 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m). Prior to the official adoption of the rule, there were several experiments with the three-point line in college basketball, including in the 1983 ACC Final, where the three-point line was set at 17'9 , and in the 1986-87 season, where it was introduced as an experimental rule by the ACC and set at 19'9
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in ACC basketball | 1986-87 season |
| Distance from the center of the basket to the 3-point line in the ACC | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) |
| Distance from the sideline to the 3-point line in the ACC | 3 feet (0.91 m) |
| Year the 3-point line was introduced in the NBA | 1979 |
| Distance from the center of the basket to the 3-point line in the NBA | 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) |
| Distance from the corner to the 3-point line in the NBA | 22 ft (6.71 m) |
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What You'll Learn
The 3-point line was first introduced in the 1986-87 season
Prior to its official adoption, the 3-point line had been experimented with for several years, including in the 1983 ACC Tournament, where the NCAA allowed conferences to test out their own 3-point lines. The official introduction of the 3-point rule in 1986 standardised the distance to 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 meters) for men's basketball and made it mandatory for the 1987-88 season.
The 3-point line had already been in play in international basketball, and its introduction at the collegiate level was driven by individuals like Ed Steitz, who believed in constantly evolving the game. Steitz, who died in 1990, was instrumental in several other significant rule changes, including the reinstatement of the dunk and the introduction of the shot clock.
The impact of the 3-point shot was immediate and profound. In the 1986-87 season, teams averaged only 9.2 3-point attempts, but by 2024-25, an average 48-minute game in the NBA included 75 shots from beyond the arc. The 3-point shot has transformed the way the game is played, with teams embracing the mathematical advantages it offers and incorporating it into their offensive strategies.
Over time, the distance of the 3-point line has been adjusted, with the NCAA lengthening the men's distance to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters) for the 2008-09 season. The women's line was moved to match in 2011-12, and in 2019-20, the NCAA adopted the FIBA arc of 6.75 meters (22 feet 1.75 inches) for all men's play, with plans to extend it to the women's game as well.
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The NCAA didn't have a 3-point line in 1983
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) did not have a 3-point line until the 1986-87 season. Before this, there were a few experimental attempts with the 3-point line. In the 1983 ACC Tournament, for example, the NCAA did not have a 3-point line, but the tournament was held at the Omni in Atlanta, the home arena of the NBA Hawks, so the outer line was the NBA 3-point line.
The 3-point line was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. There was another one-game experiment in 1958, this time with a 23-foot line, in a game between St. Francis (NY) and Siena. In 1961, Boston University and Dartmouth played one game with an experimental rule that counted all field goals as three points. In 1962, the St. Francis (New York) head coach, Daniel Lynch, once again made the suggestion of a three-point line to the New York Basketball Writers Association.
The NCAA adopted the three-pointer in women's basketball on an experimental basis for the 1986-87 season at a distance of 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) and made its use mandatory beginning in 1987–88. In 2007, the NCAA lengthened the men's distance by a foot to 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m), effective with the 2008–09 season, and the women's line was moved to match the men's in 2011–12.
The NCAA experimented with the 6.75 m (22 ft 1+3⁄4 in) FIBA three-point line distance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2018 and 2019, then adopted that distance for all men's play with a phased conversion that began with Division I in the 2019–20 season. In that same 2019–20 season, the NCAA planned to experiment with the FIBA arc in women's postseason events other than the NCAA championships, but these events were ultimately scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA announced on June 3, 2021, that the FIBA three-point distance would be extended to the women's game starting in 2021–22.
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The American Basketball League was the first league to institute the rule in 1961
The American Basketball League (ABL) became the first basketball league to introduce the three-point rule in 1961. The ABL commissioner, Abe Saperstein, wanted to add excitement to the game and differentiate it from the NBA. He hoped that the three-pointer would become basketball's equivalent of the home run in baseball. Saperstein and DePaul University coach Ray Meyer measured the distance from the basket to the new shot line, eventually deciding on 25 feet as the right length. However, in June 1961, while Saperstein was travelling, the other seven ABL owners voted to shorten the line to 22 feet. Saperstein disagreed with this decision but eventually added a 22-foot line in the corners, stating that it "made for interesting possibilities".
Despite the ABL's early adoption of the three-point rule, the league ceased operations in 1963, and the three-point shot was not widely embraced by other leagues until later. The Eastern Professional Basketball League (later known as the Continental Basketball Association) adopted the three-point shot in the 1963-64 season, followed by the American Basketball Association (ABA) in its inaugural 1967-68 season. The ABA used the three-point shot as a marketing tool, positioning itself as a more entertaining alternative to the NBA.
It is worth noting that the three-point rule was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a permanent rule. There were also one-game experiments in 1958 and 1961, with varying line distances. The NCAA officially adopted the three-point rule in April 1986 for the 1986-87 season, with the line set at 19 feet 9 inches. This rule change marked a significant shift in the game, as coaches and players adapted their strategies to take advantage of the new scoring opportunity.
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The 3-point line distance varies by competition level
The three-point line was first introduced in 1945 during a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. The American Basketball League (ABL) became the first basketball league to institute the rule in 1961. The three-point line distance varies depending on the competition level and has changed over time.
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the three-point line distance is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket. This distance is variable, ranging from 22 feet (6.7 m) in the corners to 23.75 feet (7.24 m) behind the top of the key. The NBA experimented with shortening the distance to a uniform 22 feet (6.7 m) around the basket during the 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1996-97 seasons but reverted to the original distance after the 1996-97 season.
In the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (all divisions), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the three-point line distance is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) from the center of the basket. The NCAA adopted this distance in 2019, moving away from the previous distance of 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) that was introduced in 1986.
In the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the three-point line distance is 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) from the center of the basket. This distance was adopted in 1987, a year after the NCAA.
It is worth noting that the three-point line distance is not just measured from the center of the basket but also from the sideline. In the NBA and WNBA, the distance from the sideline is 3 feet (0.91 m), resulting in a minimum distance from the center of the basket of 22 feet (6.7 m). In FIBA competitions, the minimum distance from the sideline is specified as 0.9 meters (2 ft 11 in), resulting in a minimum distance from the center of the basket of 6.6 meters (21 ft 8 in). The NCAA and NAIA courts have a slightly different configuration due to their wider dimensions, with the arc being 3 feet 4 inches (1.02 m) from each sideline.
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The NCAA lengthened the men's 3-point line distance in 2007
The three-point line was first introduced in the 1986-87 season, and the NCAA lengthened the men's three-point line distance in 2007 by a foot to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters). This change was implemented for the 2008-09 season, and the women's line was adjusted to match in the 2011-12 season.
The three-point line was first tested at the collegiate level in 1945, with a 21-foot line, in a game between Columbia and Fordham, but it was not kept as a rule. There were several other experiments with the three-point line before it was officially adopted by the NCAA in April 1986. In the 1983 ACC Tournament, for example, the NCAA did not have a three-point line, but there was an experimental 3-point line that was 2 feet shorter than the official line introduced in 1986.
In the 2015-16 season, teams were taking an average of 20.49 three-pointers per game, making 34.7% of them, and these shots accounted for 29.22% of total points. This was a record high, surpassing the previous record set in the 2007-08 season.
The 2019-20 season saw the NCAA move the three-point line back to the international distance of 22 feet, 1.75 inches. This was the first time the line had been moved since 2008, and it was expected to affect the game quite a bit, with a predicted drop in three-point shooting percentages. Despite this, teams continued to shoot as many three-pointers as they did in the 2017-18 season, when the shot's distance was more than a foot shorter.
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Frequently asked questions
The 3-point line officially entered ACC basketball in the 1986-87 season.
The 3-point line was introduced at a distance of 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 meters) from the center of the basket.
Yes, the distance has been adjusted over time. In 2007, the NCAA increased the distance for men's basketball to 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 meters). In 2011, the distance for women's basketball was also changed to match the men's distance.
