Some basketball players wonder “how far is the 3-point line” – other players know. Sometimes it’s not about technique, but knowing the shortest distance to the goal.
Okay, so you made a lucky shot from the 3-point line and it went in! But how far is the 3-point line? The 3-point line is 21 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket. It’s supposed to be 22 feet, but whatever.
It’s 3 lines (3 points) from the center of the hoop. Including the free throw circle (12 feet across), the total distance between the top of the basket and a point on the backboard is 44 feet 2 inches.
We on the playground when we were asking each other this question. And our answer was just looking up at the rim. It is a simple question, really, but one that deserves answering for more than its entertainment value.
It gives you an idea how tall someone is guarding you and also how good your shot needs to be to score from that range. Most of them can’t shoot from 3 point line.
NBA Three-Point Line
If you are a casual basketball fan and not sure how far from the basket is the three-point line, then you have come to the right place! The NBA three-point line is 23.9 feet from the center of the basket.
This distance is used by all levels of basketball, including men’s and women’s leagues, collegiate teams (NCAA), high school level players, etc.
The distance between the three-point line and free throw line is 15 feet in all levels of play except for WNBA which has 18 feet between those two lines due to its shorter court length.
WNBA Three-Point Line
The WNBA three-point line is 20.75 feet from the center of the basket. The distance between the rim and the three-point line differs slightly in each league, with NBA rims being 10 feet tall (with a three-point line at 23’9″) and NCAA rims being 12’6″.
NCAA Three Point Line
The NCAA three-point line is 19.75 feet from the center of the basket. If you are playing in the NCAA, then this is what your three-point line should be.
The NCAA has different rules for men and women’s basketball. In women’s basketball, the three point line is 18 feet from center and 20 feet from free throw line during Final Four games only (this means that during regular season play, it would be 19.75 feet).
Men’s Euro League Three-Point Line
The men’s Euro league three-point line is 20.7 feet (6.3 meters) from the center of the hoop. It was first introduced in 1984 and has since been used in other major competitions such as the FIBA World Cup, the NBA All-Star Game, and many others.
The women’s Euro league three-point line is 23 feet (7 meters). It was introduced in 2015 and has been used ever since!
FIBA Three-Point Line
If you’re an NBA basketball fan, you might be wondering how far the three point line is in international competition. It’s a little different than what you’re used to.
In FIBA (International Basketball Federation) competitions, including the Olympics and other FIBA tournaments that take place every four years including world championships and continental championships, the three-point line is 6.25 meters (20′ 6″). That’s about 20 feet, or just over six inches longer than the NBA line (which is 19 feet 9 inches).
All Three Point Lines Have Different Distances
The 3-point line is not a static distance. It varies depending on the level of play and even the age of players.
The NBA 3-point line is 23.75 feet from the center of the hoop, or about 5 feet behind the arc. This makes it roughly half as far from half court as you’re used to seeing in pickup games (which usually use 22-23 feet).
The NCAA has a slightly shorter three-point line at 19.75 feet from center, which puts it about 4 1/2 feet further back than an NBA game would have it be — but still only about 1/3rd as long as your average pickup game’s standard distance. On top of this, some high school gyms have their own distances for shooting threes – between 21′ 6″ and 23′.
Basketball Court Dimensions And Markings In NBA
The dimensions of the basketball court are 94 ft long by 50 ft wide, plus an additional 3.5 feet (1 m) at each end line and sideline for a total length of 98 feet (30 m).
The center circle is 15 ft (4.57 m) in diameter; this mark cannot be altered by hasty chalk scribbles or other methods designed to alter your opponent’s eyesight as he prepares for free throws.
Basketball courts come with lines painted on them to help players understand where they should be playing during games.
The three-point line is 22 feet 9 inches away from each basket; if you throw up a shot from here and it goes through, it’s worth three points instead of two points like when you shoot from inside 10 feet (3 meters). The lane is 4 feet (1 meter) wide – use it wisely!
Basketball Court Dimensions And Markings In FIBA
The basketball court dimensions and markings in FIBA are the same as those used by the NBA. However, there is a slight difference in length between them.
The dimensions of an NBA court are 94 feet by 50 feet for professional play, 90 feet by 50 feet for college play and 84 ft x 44 ft (2 m x 2 m) for international matches.
International courts have different markings than American courts because of this smaller size; they also use a smaller ball (28 cm diameter).
Basketball Court Dimensions And Markings In NCAA
The official dimensions of a basketball court are 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, but the floor area of the NBA is slightly larger than that at 108 feet long and 53 feet wide.
The FIBA (International Basketball Federation) standard size is also 94 x 50, but it has an out-of-bounds line on one side only.
NCAA courts are slightly different again; they have no 3-point line or hash marks/sidelines like you see in international competition or in professional leagues like NBA or WNBA, as well as home team benches which are closer to half court than in other leagues.
Frequently Asked Question (How Far Is The 3 Point Line From The Hoop)
How far is the 3-point line from the center of the basket?
The 3-point line is located 22 feet 9 inches or 7.24 meters from the center of the basket. That’s a little over halfway between the free throw line and the foul line.
Is the 3-point line the same distance?
The 3-point line is the same distance in both the NCAA and NBA. The 3-point line is 20 feet 9 inches from each basket.
While it’s not required to shoot from inside of the three point arc, it’s a good idea as it helps increase your field goal percentage and add an extra dimension to your game.
How far away is an NBA free throw line?
As a general rule, the free throw line in NBA games is 15 feet from the rim. However, some college and high school basketball courts have a shorter distance—in those cases, you can expect a 14-foot line.
The goal of this distance is to simulate shooting at an actual three-point line (18 feet, 9 inches) while remaining within easy reach of the hoop. Most players can easily make shots from that point without having to jump too high or strain their arms too much.
How far away is the free-throw line from the rim?
The free-throw line, or foul line as it’s often called, is the painted area extending across the floor from the midcourt line to the baseline. It divides the court into two equal parts.
The distance of this line from either end of the court is 10 feet. This is true for both men and women’s basketball games and high school or college contests as well as international competitions like FIBA World Championships.
How far away is a high school free throw line?
The high school free throw line is 15 feet away from the basket. The distance between the free throw line and the 3-point line is 20 feet, and the distance between the free throw line and half court is 94 feet.
Conclusion
Well today I can tell you. The NBA 3-point line is 23.9 feet from the basket. I’ve played basketball since I was a kid and I always wondered how they came up with that distance. So, I did some research on it and learned a lot more about the history of basketball in general.
The original purpose of the 3 point line was to increase offense and scoring in the game. 3 points became the reward for a made shot beyond what was at that time 20 feet and 25 feet from the basket.