Three-point field goal

A three-point field goal (also called a three-pointer) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for field goals made within the three-point line and the one point for each made free throw. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the 3-point line is 22 ft. (approximately 6.706 m) away from the basket in the corners of the court. This distance naturally increases along a 14 ft. (approx. 4.267 m) straight line that is 3 ft. (approx. 0.914 m) away from the sidelines. At the 14 ft. mark, the 3-point line becomes an arc 23 ft. 9 in. (approx. 7.239 m) away from the basket and remains so until the arc reaches the straight line on the other side of the court 14 ft. from the baseline. In international FIBA & WNBA play, the three-point line is 22 ft. 1.75 in. (6.75 m) away from the basket on the arc and 21 ft. 8 in (6.6 m) at its corners. In both men's and women's National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) basketball, the three-point line is an arc 20 ft. 9 in. (approx. 6.325 m) away from the basket that, unlike professional leagues, does not change as it gets closer to the sidelines.

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America, and is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world. It has 30 franchised member clubs (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada), and is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by FIBA (also known as the International Basketball Federation) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States. The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues. NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per player.

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The league adopted the name National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after merging with its rival National Basketball League (NBL). The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey.