Do NBA courts seem small when viewed up close?

[Cable]

This is just something that I've observed, maybe some of you have too.

To me, an NBA court looks bigger on TV than it actually is. I've painted the offical NBA court lines on my driveway and I often wonder about how 4-6 guys who are at least 6'8'' can fit into the key at once. The key looks tiny compared to what I see on TV. Another one is the three-point line, I don't know how many of you have ever shot from the official NBA three-point distance, but it looks awfully close. One of the first things my friends say when they come over is how close the 3 line seems.

I have been to an NBA court, and when you're sitting courtside it looks smaller then when you're higher up or watching on TV. It's not just that the court looks smaller, it's that the players look smaller in porportion to the court. It's obviously an illusion, but is it more than that; is it our minds tricking us into thinking that?



So, to any of you who've seen an NBA court up close, or even a college court, do you think it looks smaller?

[J@3]

I'm not sure about the court itself looking smaller, but I do know that when you're playing against a team of professionals (i.e an NBL team here), the court looked tiny. Like there was absolutely no room to move at all, these big tall guys just took up the entire thing and there was nowhere to go.

Though I haev a feeling you might have got the dimensions on your court wrong, because the 3 point line seems fairly far out to me.

[Cable]

It's 24 feet 9 inches, at least mine is. I measured it like three times to be certain. Sometimes it seems far, but usually it look close, at least compared to what you thought it was.

[hipn]

Looks small because the players are freakishly tall and big. lus its all about angles.

[Abctest123]

deffinately, on tv, the court seems larger than if you were at the actual game live. i havent been on the actual court, but the three point line isnt exceptionally far as i thought it would be if i had never been to a game. I think with the way i shoot in recreational courts, all it would take would be maybe just slightly more power to shoot the three or maybe i can actually just take my normal shot and still be able to hit a NBA three.

[Colin]

The 3pt line isn't 29'9'', that must be a typo. Off the top of my head I thought it was 24'9'.'

[hipn]

deffinately, on tv, the court seems larger than if you were at the actual game live. i havent been on the actual court, but the three point line isnt exceptionally far as i thought it would be if i had never been to a game. I think with the way i shoot in recreational courts, all it would take would be maybe just slightly more power to shoot the three or maybe i can actually just take my normal shot and still be able to hit a NBA three.

I saw the over-view of an NBA court and 3 point line seemed huge, and it seemed far from the corner. All I know is the 3 line (NBA) is bigger than those of like recreational courts.

[Matt]

shooting the NBA 3 is harder than it looks. My court had the NBA 3 and it was tough to make a shot, but when i stepped in to the college distance i was automatic. It's simply an adjustment period.

[air2k5]

I played at Pepsi center in 2004 , Jefferson academy vs I forgot who we played. Anyway, Thye added the HS 3 pt lane, and the NBA 3pt lane was still on there. I'd say that the court is a little longer then standard high school Gym court, but 3pt line is far I would say. I tried shooting from the NBA 3pt line and it is pretty tough. Free throw line is further away too, because I missed my forst 3 free throws, I was 92% prior to that.

[Num33Baller]

I played at Pepsi center in 2004 , Jefferson academy vs I forgot who we played. Anyway, Thye added the HS 3 pt lane, and the NBA 3pt lane was still on there. I'd say that the court is a little longer then standard high school Gym court, but 3pt line is far I would say. I tried shooting from the NBA 3pt line and it is pretty tough. Free throw line is further away too, because I missed my forst 3 free throws, I was 92% prior to that.

No, the free throw line is the same distance...

I played at Arco Arena for the Nor Cal championship, and it seemed fairly big to me... Maybe bigger than a high school court, but I don't think so.

The NBA three didn't seem that far for me (as I work on shooting a few feet behind the college three), but it was a little farther than I expected.

[cklitsie]

For some strange reason to me professional rims are really low compared to your average HS/club team. I can dunk two-handed on a pro basket much, much easier.

[Num33Baller]

For some strange reason to me professional rims are really low compared to your average HS/club team. I can dunk two-handed on a pro basket much, much easier.

Its the court. The hardwood is much springier than your normal HS/rec court, because the hardwood is actually elevated off of the ground a little.

[Matt]

yeah the courts have padding underneath them unlike your regular HS gyms which proceed to screw up your legs.

I'd say NBA courts are bigger than the local gym, if the 3 point line is further away, then it has to extend alone the baseline as well.

[Num33Baller]

yeah the courts have padding underneath them unlike your regular HS gyms which proceed to screw up your legs.

I'd say NBA courts are bigger than the local gym, if the 3 point line is further away, then it has to extend alone the baseline as well.

The NBA three in the corner is 1.125 feet farther from the hoop than college.


NBA




College.

Court Size Overall:

* College/NBA – 94 feet long and 50 feet wide
* High School – 84 feet long and 50 feet wide
* Junior High – 74 feet long and 42 feet wide

Most rec courts are Junior High or High School size.



References: NBA: http://www.sportsknowhow.com/basketball ... sions.html

College/HS: http://www.sportsknowhow.com/basketball ... sions.html

[Isaiah]

its just the way the camera angle is on TV. they make the courts seem larger (and the players smaller).

[mark_30_112]

Basketball hoops especailly in the NBA would be harder getting points then what it would be on recreational for sure...

[air2k5]

Basketball hoops especailly in the NBA would be harder getting points then what it would be on recreational for sure...

Not really, If I am not mistaken they are same size. They also usually use nicer Nets which for me is easier to score on. It will be harder shooting 3's though.

[cklitsie]

Its the court. The hardwood is much springier than your normal HS/rec court, because the hardwood is actually elevated off of the ground a little.

Might be true sounds logical, but a while ago I played in a gym with a pro basket but a crappy floor with sand and other dirt on it which made me kind of slip and I still dunked easier.

[Username123]

I just went to see the Raps game, and I also thought that the court was way too small, the three point line looked pretty small as well.

[maes]

Rim should be the same height regardless. If you've got a hoop that raises with a cranking tool, it's possible the maintenance guy just raises them too high.

The nicer the hoop & stanchion set up is the easier it is to score, mainly because the nicer ones are sprung to prevent players from destroying them when they dunk, but it also makes jumpers go in easier.

Out on a lot of chicago parks they have double rims, and if it's not a swish it's not going in, and rebounds usually bounce out to the 3 point line.

[Num33Baller]

Rim should be the same height regardless. If you've got a hoop that raises with a cranking tool, it's possible the maintenance guy just raises them too high.

The nicer the hoop & stanchion set up is the easier it is to score, mainly because the nicer ones are sprung to prevent players from destroying them when they dunk, but it also makes jumpers go in easier.

Out on a lot of chicago parks they have double rims, and if it's not a swish it's not going in, and rebounds usually bounce out to the 3 point line.

My god I hate double rims man. They should fucking be illegal.

[Jona]

Sorry for the ignorace, but what are double rims?

[maes]

Regular basketball rims are just screwed/bolted to the backboard directly, so if you dunk on them they'll eventually bend down.

In places where they can't afford sprung rims (like parks) they'll bolt 2 rims to the backboard instead of 1, on top of each other so it has no give. This makes it much more difficult to score with normal balls, you can deflate the ball to compensate but then it bounces weird and it's basically a mess.

[Num33Baller]

Double Rim:



Single (Normal) Rim:

[[Q]]

Yeah I remember when I went to Staples last year, I remembered that it seemed a little small close up. Camera angles on TV make it seem really big.