How Far Is The 3 Point Line In The NBA?
Contents
The three-point line is 22 feet from the basket in the corners and 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket in the other areas of the court.
The NBA’s Three-Point Line
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the three-point line is the demarcation line that separates the two-point area from the three-point area. The three-point line is positioned at a distance from the basket that is 23.75 feet (7.24 m) from the near edge of the key to the far edge of the three-point arc.
The History of the Three-Point Line in the NBA
In 1979, the NBA introduced the three-point line for the first time. The three-point line was an experiment at the time, and it wasn’t made permanent until the 1984-1985 season.
The three-point line has been modified a few times since it was first introduced. In 1986, the line was moved back to 22 feet in all directions. In 1997, the line was moved again, this time to a uniform distance of 23 feet and 9 inches from the basket in all directions.
The most recent change to the three-point line came in 2008, when the NBA decided to move the line back one foot to 22 feet in all directions. This change was made in an effort to reduce the number of three-point attempts, as well as make the game more exciting by increasing scoring overall.
Despite these changes, the basic principle of the three-point line has remained constant: it is a point value awarded for successful long-range shots made from beyond a predetermined distance from the basket.
The Three-Point Line in Today’s NBA
The three-point line in the National Basketball Association is 22 feet (6.7 m) from the basket in the corners and 23 feet (7.0 m) from the center of the basket. The three-point line has been in place since the 1979–80 season, when it was instituted by the NBA.
In today’s game, the three-point line has become increasingly important. Many teams now rely heavily on the three-pointer, as it is often seen as an easy way to score points. As a result, some players have made a name for themselves as “three-point specialists.” These are players whose main role on the team is to shoot threes.
The three-point line has also led to changes in how teams play defense. Because shooting a three-pointer is so easy compared to driving to the basket or shooting a mid-range jumper, many teams now use a “zone defense.” This is when defenders stay close to their own man instead of trying to stop everyone on the court.
The three-point line has changed the game of basketball in many ways, and it looks like it is here to stay.
How Far Is the Three-Point Line in the NBA?
The three-point line is 23 feet, nine inches from the basket at the corners and 22 feet in the air at the top of the key. The three-point line has been in the NBA since the 1979-80 season.
The Three-Point Line in the NBA’s Regular Season
The three-point line in the NBA is 23 feet and nine inches from the hoop at the top of the key. This is 22 feet in the corners, where the line meets the baseline. The distance from the hoop increases by six inches as you move toward the sidelines.
The Three-Point Line in the NBA’s Playoffs
The Three-Point Line in the NBA’s playoffs is 22 feet in the corners and 23 feet, 9 inches everywhere else.
Conclusion
While the NBA three-point line has been moved a few times throughout its history, it currently sits at 22 feet in the corners and 23.75 feet behind the rest of the arc. This change was made prior to the start of the 2008-2009 season in order to give shooters an extra foot to work with and open up the game a bit.
Despite this change, many players still struggle to hit threes consistently from NBA distance. In fact, during the 2017-2018 season, only four players (Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and JJ Redick) shot over 40% from three-point range while taking at least five threes per game.
So, while the NBA three-point line isn’t as far as some people might think, it’s still farther than most college and high school lines. This distance makes it very difficult for most players to hit threes consistently, which is why we see such a big difference in shooting percentage between the NBA and other levels of basketball.