Question:

[AzCards21]

Basketball is something I really don't know much about but I have questions for those of you that do.

1-Why is the three point line different for college vs pro?
2-Is the High school line different than college?
3-Does it really matter?

In football high school, college and pro all play on the same field. Why is it not the same in basketball?

 

[elindholm]

In football high school, college and pro all play on the same field. Why is it not the same in basketball?

In football, challenges are relative between the players. The offense must be stronger/faster/whatever compared to the defense. As the level of competition increases, competing forces stay in balance.

In basketball, some challenges are absolute. A 20-foot shot is a easier for a fully developed adult than for a high school kid.

Also, part of the goal of the three-point line is to provide the offensive team with greater incentive for spacing. In the pros, the players are simply bigger, and they command more space, so the "spacing arc" (so to speak) has to be farther away.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

didnt the 3 point line used to be the same as in college? I thought International ball used the college line as well. A big part of it is so many players can hit a shot form the top of the key without a problem. Hell even Scott Williams can hit that shot.

Do we really want the 3 point shot to be that easy?

Eric was definitely right about the spacing, in fact I heard a couple months back that they were talking about extending and widing the court a little bit, since players now days are so fast and big. They run the length of the floor in a couple seconds. Also with the 3 pt line being so far out, the amount of space between the line and the out of bounds line is pretty small.

 

[elindholm]

They've changed the NBA three-point line at least twice since introducing it. I don't know the distances, but the first change was to move it closer. That was the year the Kevin Johnson suddenly became a great three-point shooter, because the new distance was within his comfortable range.

That lasted only a couple of years, and then they moved it out. I think that the current distance (besides in the corners) is farther away than the original distance (before they first moved it in), but I could be wrong.

Good point about it being close to the sideline, though. Even if they extend the general distance, they pretty much have to leave it where it is in the corners.

 

[Chaplin]

I actually heard or read something a few days ago that said that the NCAA is talking about moving the 3-point line out further...

 

[PhiLLmattiC]

the 3 point line was moved from 23 feet 9 inches to 25 feet back. The college 3 point line i think is 20 feet

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by PhiLLmattiC
the 3 point line was moved from 23 feet 9 inches to 25 feet back. The college 3 point line i think is 20 feet

Isn't a basketball court 50 ft. across, or is it only 48 ft.? If it is and the three-point line is 25 ft. from the basket there would be no room to shoot a three-point shot in the corners.

The current three-point line is 23' 9". I thought they moved it in to 21-20 2 ft. for a couple seasons in the early 90's. Or was it the mid-90's.

NBA basketball court regulations:
http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_1.html?nav=ArticleList

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

If it is and the three-point line is 25 ft. from the basket there would be no room to shoot a three-point shot in the corners.

The three-point shot is closer in the corners. The arc becomes a straight line near the sidelines.

 

[PhiLLmattiC]

thanks for clearin it up e. yeah i meant from the top of the key.

 

[AzCards21]

Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by elindholm
If it is and the three-point line is 25 ft. from the basket there would be no room to shoot a three-point shot in the corners.

The three-point shot is closer in the corners. The arc becomes a straight line near the sidelines.

You are right. The three-point shot is 22 ft. in the corners. It is 23 ft. 9 in. at the arc. It shows quite clearly and that diagram I linked to in my earlier post. I was looking for the previous distance for a three-point shot, but I haven't been able to find it yet. I know it was that way for a few years during the mid-90's.

Joe Mama