How Tall is a Basketball?
Contents
Basketball is a game that is played by two teams of five players each. The objective of the game is to score points by shooting a ball through a hoop.
Introduction
A basketball is a round, inflated ball used in the game of basketball The standard size of a basketball is 29.5 inches in circumference and 9.9 inches in diameter. The basketball court measures 50 feet by 84 feet, and the hoop is 10 feet off the ground.
Basketball Court Dimensions
The dimensions of a basketball court vary depending on the level of play. For example, a regulation college or professional court is 94 feet long by 50 feet wide However, a High School court is only 84 feet long by 50 feet wide In addition, a Half Court used in recreational play is only half the length of a regulation court at 47 feet long by 50 feet wide. The width of all basketball courts however, remain the same at 50 feet wide.
The Hoop
The standard hoop is 10 feet (3.05 meters) off the ground. Most rims are 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) in diameter, but they can be as small as 4 inches (10.16 centimeters). The backboard is 6 feet (1.83 meters) wide and 3.5 feet (1.07 meters) tall.
The Rim
The official height of the basketball rim is 10 feet. This is the height at which all shots must be taken from in order to be counted as baskets. There is a small home-court advantage to be had by playing with a slightly higher rim as it becomes more difficult for opponents to make shots.
The Backboard
The backboard is suspended approximately 10 feet above the ground and is 6 feet wide by 3.5 feet tall. The dimensions of the backboard may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, but the size is typically standardized for all regulation-size models.
The Ball
The ball is the same size for all levels of play, but its weight differs. For example, an NBA regulation ball weighs 22 ounces, while a high school regulation ball weighs only 20 ounces. The exception to this rule is the WNBA, which uses a smaller ball that is between 16 and 20 ounces.
The Player
The average player is about six feet seven inches tall. The tallest player in the NBA was Manute Bol who was about seven feet seven inches tall. The shortest player in the NBA was Muggsy Bogues who was about five feet three inches tall.
Conclusion
A basketball is generally between 9 and 10 inches in diameter. If you are looking for a specific size, however, you may want to measure the circumference of the ball to get an accurate measurement.
