The 3-point line was introduced in the 1979-80 NBA season. Before then, all field goals simply counted as two points no matter from where one shot the ball. The concept of awarding three points for baskets made from longer distances originated in other professional basketball leagues in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably the American Basketball Association (ABA).
When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, the NBA initially resisted adopting the 3-point line, seeing it more as a gimmick. Though controversial at first, it did not take long for the 3-point shot to become a fundamental part of modern basketball strategy and identity in the NBA.
3-point Line Distance
The official distance of the 3-point line in the NBA is 23 feet and 9 inches, except from the corners, where it is 22 feet from the basket.
Compared to other major basketball leagues, the 23 feet, 9 inch NBA 3-point line is further out. FIBA, the international governing body, has a 3-point line distance of 22.1 feet. The WNBA has a similar 3-point arc length, at 22 feet and 1.75 inches.
Additionally, the NBA G League, the minor league organization of the NBA, mimics the exact 3-point dimensions to prepare players for promotion to the top league.
FAQs
A. The official distance of the 3-point line in the NBA is 23 feet and 9 inches from the basket.
A. The NBA's three-point line is 7.24 meters.
A. In high school basketball, the 3-point line is 19.75 feet from the basket.
A. The 3-point line is measured from the center of the rim to the arc of the three-point line.
