The top of the key in basketball refers to the top most point of the arch above the free throw line.
Different leagues have some different rules concerning the key, with the highest level of play – the NBA and WNBA – having among the largest key/paint areas and longest 3-point lines. So, what are the dimensions of the key across the many basketball leagues and levels?
Size of The Key
Here are the dimensions of the key, as they vary depending on the league/level:
NBA and WNBA: 16 feet (4.9 meters) width by 19 ft (5.8 m) length
FIBA: 16.08 ft (4.9 m) width by 15 ft (4.6 m) length
College and High School Basketball: 12 ft (3.7 m) width by 15 ft (4.6 m) length
Free Throw Line Height:
- Free Throw Line Length: 15 ft (4.6 m) away from the baseline
- Free Throw Circle Radius: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Free Throw Line Width:
- NBA: 19 feet (5.8 m)
- College and High School Basketball: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Another common question that people ask – how far is a top of the key 3 pointer?
- NBA: 23.75 ft (7.2 m)
- WNBA, College, and International Basketball: 22.15 ft (6.8 m)
- High School Basketball: 19.75 ft (6.0 m)
Many basketball fans know the importance of the corner 3-pointer, which is much closer than the top of the key 3-pointer in the NBA: 22 ft (6.7 m). Also in the NBA, the lane lines are required to be two 6-inch (15 cm) long hash marks, and they are situated 3 ft (0.9 m) from the free throw line.
Real World Example of The Importance of The Key
I remember all those times I would bring the basketball past half court and stare down my defender, as I thought about pulling up for a 3-pointer at the top of the key. As the point guard, I knew I had to make the possession happen for our offense. The defensive players were usually worried about the player they were guarding, so I knew I could get a one-on-one matchup with my defender most times.
Usually at the beginning of the game, I would be the shooter from the top of the arc. Then, as the game progressed, I was able to get to the hoop and get strong shot attempts near the basket. As I entered the key, the rim was in my sight, and so were my teammates.
We knew we had the defense right where we wanted them. I either went from being the ball handler to the passer, or I continued to be the dribbler. When I passed to the post player, it would lead to easy two-pointer attempts. If the opponents packed in near the baseline, then I would find the open three-point shooter. If not, I could finish at the bucket for 2 points.
FAQ’s
Why Is It Called The Top of The Key?
In 1936, the first iteration of the key was a narrow rectangular shape on the basketball court. The semicircle looked larger in comparison, and therefore, the court looked like it had a keyhole on each side.
Other Names for The Key:
- NBA: “Free throw lane”
- “Foul lane”
- “The lane”
- “The paint”
- “16-foot lane”
- FIBA: “restricted area”
However, the NBA has referred to the “restricted area” as the area designated by a semicircle underneath the basket where offensive fouls cannot be taken. This “restricted area arc” is found 4 ft (1.2 m) from the hoop for the NBA and NCAA.
For FIBA, it is known as the “no-charge semicircle” 4.1 ft (1.2 m) from the basket. This semicircle is a recent innovation that originated in the NBA for the 1997-98 season as well as in NCAA men’s basketball for the 2010-2011 season.
How Many Seconds Are You Allowed to Be in The Key/Paint?
The quick answer to this question is three – the maximum number of seconds allowed is three seconds, but it differs based on the league. There are multiple 3-second violations:
3-Second Violation on Offense: the “Three Seconds Rule”
The typical three-second violation is the one for the offense in which an offensive player spends three consecutive seconds in the key. According to the official NBA rulebook, “The 3-second count shall not begin until the ball is in control in the offensive team’s frontcourt. No violation can occur if the ball is batted away by an opponent.”
- What is the penalty for this violation?
- Turnover / change of possession. The opposing team receives the ball out of bounds at the free throw line extended.
- Which leagues is it in?
Defensive 3-Second Violation
Also known as illegal defense, this violation is called when a defender spends three consecutive seconds in the paint. According to the NBA, the defensive three-second count is suspended by several situations, including when the offensive player is shooting or when the defender is actively guarding an opponent.
- What is the penalty for this violation?
- The offensive team attempts one technical free throw, and the offensive team then receives the ball out of bounds at the free throw line extended nearest the point of interruption.
- Which leagues is it in?
key
What Is The Definition Of Key In Basketball?
1. The key is an area on the basketball court where the majority of the action takes place during a basketball game, which includes the free throw lane and free throw circle. This area is usually painted a different color than the rest of the court, therefore it can also be referred to as “the paint”.
There are two keys on a court and they are located under each backboard. Its boundaries begin on the endline and extends to the top of the free throw circle, with the side boundaries being the lines of the free throw lane.
The Dimensions Of The Key On A Basketball Court
It is referred to as “the key” due to its shape when it was first created. Today, an NBA regulation width key is 16 feet wide, whereas in the past it was only six feet wide. Because the top of the key (free throw circle) is a circular shape with a six foot radius, it gave off the impression of a “key” since it had a very narrow body.
The key’s dimensions for an NBA court are 22 feet tall by 16 feet wide. A college basketball court uses a width of 12 feet.
Examples Of How The Key Is Used In Commentary
1. Paul steals the pass and leads the fast break. He fakes the pass right and pulls up at the top of the key to knock down the open jumper.
Sport The Term Is Used
1. Basketball
Also Known As
1. The key
2. The paint
Whether you play and want to sharpen your know-how or are a spectator with a desire to beef up your basketball IQ, understanding the different spots on the basketball court will only enhance your knowledge of the game.
The “top of the key” is one such term that comes up numerous times during games, but the meaning, and importance, of the term may be lost on you. For those unsure fans, don’t worry!
The top of the key is labeled in the image below. Become familiar with that spot, because we will break down its impact within the game of basketball and discuss some interesting facts about one of the most popular spots on the court.
For those familiar with what a key looks like (so, everyone?!), you may wonder why they picked that terminology in naming a part of the basketball court. Let’s focus on the whole key before we get into the top part.
The key specifically refers to the free throw lane, making the top of it like the key head. If you look at the above image, a photo of a modern basketball court, you may be confused as to why it’s called a key in the first place. Let me explain.
A basketball court didn’t always look like it does in the above pic. There was a time that the lane was a lot more narrow.
As you can see, the lane used to be much more narrow. With a little imagination, you can definitely see a key shape with the lines of the paint.
The History Of The Key
The above black-and-white picture is what the original key looked like, with the narrower lane and free-throw circle on the top (aka Top of the Key). The narrow lane measured six feet wide and was a staple in the game until the style of play began to inhibit the size of the key.
Centers, notably George Mikan the game’s first dominant big man, began taking over the sport. They were putting up big numbers on the court and clogging the lane.
So, before the 1951-52 season, the league doubled the width of the key from 6 to 12 feet wide. Just thirteen seasons later the NBA widened the key again from 12 to 16 feet. Big men, like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, again were dominating the league and it needed a change.
Other Names For The Key
Most players, coaches, and announcers today don’t call this the key. They often refer to it as the “lane”, because of the lane it made with its lines or “paint” because it was often painted the color of the home team.
Other countries have called it a “cup” or “bottle as well, but those names never made it into American basketball terminology.
The FIBA Key: 1956-2010
Perhaps the oddest key was utilized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA due to the French translation Federation Internationale de Basketball). FIBA is the national association that governs basketball on a global level. They also organize men’s and women’s basketball events for the Olympics.
From 1956 up until 2010, FIBA’s key was in the shape of a trapezoid, making the lane very wide towards the basket.
After 2010, FIBA decided to update its key and began using the rectangle with a little wrinkle. The free throw circle, which includes the top of the key, is smaller than the lane and doesn’t make a clean line between the two.
Check out both FIBA key iterations below.
Image courtesy of BBall Breakdown
The top of the key is an important place on the basketball court for many reasons.
Initiate Offense
Offensive plays are often initiated from the top of the key. When a team’s point guard brings the ball up the court, the top of the key is where many will call and start their plays.
The top of the key is a great place to initiate offense because it is in the middle of the court and the offense can “balance” the court better. Balancing the court means there are an equal amount of offensive players on each side of the court (usually two on each side with the PG in the middle).
Entry passes are also made easier from the top of the key because of the space you have from that part of the court.
Imagine calling a play while you are in the corner of the court without any teammates close to you. It would be tough to pass them the ball and equally as difficult for them to get away from their defender to catch the entry pass because of the lack of spacing.
Half-Court/Pickup Games
The top of the key is where every possession starts during a pickup and/or half-court game. Because you don’t have a tip-off during pickup, the game starts with the offense and defense “checking ball” – bouncing the ball back and forth to each other to acknowledge the start of the possession.
During half-court games, if you get a rebound from the other team’s miss (as long as the ball touches the rim), you bring the ball back to the top of the key before you begin to play offense.
There are some disadvantages to utilizing the top of the key too much during today’s NBA. A big push advance stats and analytics in the game have shown that top-of-the-key shots aren’t the most statistically successful.
Many teams try their hardest to get shots from the corner of the court rather than the top of the key because a corner three-pointer is actually closer to the hoop than one from the top of the key.
Granted, there are still plenty of shots from the top of the key (hello pull-up threes!) but, those shots are not statistically or strategically the most sought after.
Final Thoughts
The top of the key is one of the most popular places on a basketball court for good reason. Not only does it have a catchy nickname, but offenses are run effectively from this place as well.
While the key and its multiple parts have been changed throughout basketball history it still remains a part of the game in almost every aspect imaginable.
Even though the top of the key isn’t the best statistical shot on the court, is it still one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!