This image is from a video game, but I was watching an actual game from Orlando the other night and it’s an accurate representation of the real thing. I’d never really thought much about the markings before, and I got to wondering about their purpose.
First, there’s the solid half-circle extending from the top of the paint. I’ve always assumed that this is simply the zone in which a free-throw shooter must stand, but it’s possible I’m completely wrong about this.
Then, there’s the dotted half-circle that makes up the other half of the above, and then another solid half-circle under the net. I don’t even have a guess as to what these second two are for.
I’m sure somebody here must know, if you’d be so kind as to fight my ignorance.
Others can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the circle around the free throw line is for jump balls, and it’s to keep players other than the 2 jumping from being in that area (just like the center circle for the opening tipoff). Why it’s dashed on one half, I don’t know. The solid half-circle near the basket was introduced maybe 10 years ago or so. If a defender is standing inside that circle, the offensive player can’t be called for charging.
The circle around the free throw line has been there since time immemorial. High school and college now use alternating possessions on “jump balls” so the only place a jump ball is ever performed now is at the start of the game and overtime in the center circle. But I suppose it remains there to this day outside of the NBA courts out of tradition.
I know that my local college doesn’t keep the lower half of the circle around the free throw line. Can’t think of any non NBA courts that do off the top of my head. I think they’d look odd though without the upper half - just can’t imagine them otherwise.
Most college and high school basketball courts have indeed dispensed with the broken half circle below the free throw line after the alternate possession rule was adopted (sometime in the early 80s, I think.) As the OP suggested, the top half was retained since it does indeed define the zone where the free thrown shooter is allowed to stand. The NBA still retains the broken semi-circle because it never adopted the alternate possession rule.
The free throw line is there for the majority of players. In Australia and I am sure other parts of the world Under 12’s and some disabled players shoot from a line further forward but still within the “circle”. This is one reason it has been kept. Please note although jump balls have been eliminated with the switch to possession arrows it is a hangover from the old days of jumps at the top of the key.
It is also easier to sell a circle for an advertisement that a semi circle!
Now if someone could explain the new “non charge” area under the basket that would be great!
What about those three short black lines (two closer together than the third) that run perpendicular to the black filled-in area just outside the key? And, while we’re at it, what about those short white lines in that black shaded area?
I did do a bit of wiki-ing before I posted the question (found some partial answers but decided to ask the Dope anyway, 'cause it’s fun!), and was particularly intrigued by this passage:
I’m not sure if these are what pulykamell is asking about, but… whuh?? What a weird rule.
On further review here there are two little hash marks inside the paint, outside the circle, that appear to have no purpose. I was thinking of the has marks outside the paint, where guys stand during free throws.
Related question: when and why did the NBA and NCAA change the rules on where players line up along the lane for free throws? It used to be that the players farthest from the shooter were between the box and the end line. Now, nobody lines up “lower” than the box.
It’s pretty simple. A defensive player wishing to draw a charge must have both of his feet completely outside that circle. If not, and there is contact, it’s either a block or a no-call.
Yeah, those were the black marks I was talking about. I guess I was wondering why they are spaced the way they are, too. It’s hash mark, (estimated) three feet of space, another hash mark, three feet of space, hash mark, then one foot of space, another hash mark, then space until the baseline. Why the extra foot of space? I can’t believe I never noticed this, but do the first two players line up in that three foot space, and the third has to squeeze in that smaller space?
If that doesn’t make sense, here’s a diagram:
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And the white hash marks I was also asking about only appear to be on Orlando’s court. If you follow the black hash marks in towards the key a little bit, you’ll see them.
I’ve noticed these in the past and always assumed it was to give the inside defensive team rebounders the appropriate amount of space to get the rebounds. If not, the next-to-inside offensive rebounder would be able to steal more rebounds. In essence, it makes the referees’ jobs a bit easier so that they don’t have to spend much attention for any ticky-tack fouls around missed free throws.
