In basketball, the court plays a crucial role. With all the lines, zones, and markings, it can be a bit overwhelming — but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
In this article, we’ll break down exactly how a basketball court is structured and explain the most important markings you need to know.
Let’s start with the basics: the playing surface and the court itself.
Basketball courts are usually made of wooden parquet (for indoor courts) and have standardized dimensions — but these can vary depending on the league and age group.
This becomes especially interesting if you watch both American and European basketball because their court sizes differ slightly.
Basket Height: 3.05 meters worldwide
As you can see in the video, the court is clearly defined by non-slip painted lines.
The game starts inside the center circle with a jump ball. The referee tosses the ball into the air at midcourt, and players from each team jump to tip it. The team that gains possession gets the first offensive play.
The free-throw line is 4.6 meters from the basket. As the name suggests, players take free throws from here after certain fouls. This line also marks the beginning of the “free-throw lane.”
Look around the basket and you’ll notice a semi-circular line — that’s the three-point arc. Shots made from beyond this line are worth three points. If a player’s foot is on or inside the line when shooting, the basket counts for only two points.
FIBA Distance: 6.75 meters from the basket
NBA Distance: 7.24 meters
The paint is the rectangular area under the basket, defined by the free-throw line and two vertical boundary lines.
Special rules apply here:
This area is crucial for rebounds and powerful drives to the hoop.
The baselines are located behind each basket. An attack often begins behind the baseline after a point has been scored. The sidelines delimit the playing field on the long sides.
Courtside is the area immediately surrounding the court. Here you’ll find coaches, bench players, referees, media personnel, and VIP guests. In some arenas, fans can even buy courtside seats, getting incredibly close to the action.
Inside the three-point arc, directly under the basket, there’s a smaller semi-circle. This is the no-charge zone.
Defenders cannot draw an offensive foul within this area if they’re standing still and contact is made by an attacker.
Alongside the paint, you’ll notice small marks where players must stand during free throws.
While one player takes the shot from the free-throw line, the others line up on these spots to be ready for a potential rebound, while leaving space for the shooter.
In basketball, the lines themselves are considered part of the zones they define.
For example, if you step onto the three-point line while shooting, the basket will only count for two points instead of three — even if just your toe touches the line!
