A three-pointer is a field goal scored from behind the three-point line, and it is worth three points instead of the standard two. Any shot released while the shooter’s feet are on or behind the arc counts for three points, while a shot taken with a foot touching or inside the line counts for two. The catch is that the arc is not drawn at the same distance in every competition: the NBA line is the deepest, while FIBA and the NCAA use a shorter, matching distance.
What the three-point line is
The three-point line is the curved boundary painted on the floor around each basket. Everything inside it is two-point territory, and everything beyond it is worth three. The rule rewards long-range accuracy, because a made shot from distance is worth 50 percent more than a basket near the rim. That simple math has reshaped modern offenses, spreading players across the floor and pulling big defenders away from the basket.
The line was not always part of the game. The NBA adopted it for the 1979-80 season, and college and international basketball followed over the years that came after. Today it is fundamental at every level, influencing shot selection, spacing, and even how positions are defined, as centers who can shoot from range have become common.
A three-pointer is scored the same way as any other field goal: the ball must pass through the hoop from a live-ball shot attempt. What changes is only the value, tied entirely to where the shot begins. That is why broadcasters and stat sheets track a player’s three-point attempts and makes separately from two-point shots, and why long-range shooting percentage has become one of the most closely watched numbers in the sport.
Three-point distances by league
The biggest source of confusion is distance. The NBA arc is measured 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket at the top of the key, but it flattens to 22 feet in the corners. FIBA and NCAA basketball both use 6.75 meters, which is about 22 feet 1.75 inches, shortening to roughly 21 feet 8 inches in the corners.
| League | Top of the arc | Corner |
|---|---|---|
| NBA | 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) | 22 feet (6.70 m) |
| FIBA | 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 m) | 21 feet 8 inches (6.60 m) |
| NCAA (men and women) | 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 m) | about 21 feet 8 inches |
The NCAA moved the men’s line back to the international 6.75-meter distance beginning with the 2019-20 season, and women’s college basketball adopted the same distance for the 2021-22 season. The WNBA also uses the FIBA distance. That leaves the NBA as the only major competition with a deeper arc, which is why NBA range shooting is often described as more demanding.
What counts as a three-pointer
For a shot to count for three, the shooter must have both feet on or behind the line at the moment the ball is released. A player may leap across the line after releasing the ball and still score three, as long as no part of either foot was touching the line on takeoff. If a foot is on the line, the shot is a two-pointer, because the line itself is part of the two-point area.
A player fouled while attempting a three-pointer that misses is awarded three free throws. If a three-point attempt goes in despite the foul, the shooter scores three and adds one free throw for a rare four-point play. Officials, aided by video review where it is available, determine whether the shooter’s feet were behind the line.
Why the corner three is shorter
The arc cannot be a perfect semicircle at a uniform distance, because at full radius it would run past the sideline. To keep the line inbounds, the arc is flattened into two straight segments in the corners. In the NBA that corner distance is 22 feet, nearly two feet closer than the top of the key, which is why the corner three is one of the most efficient shots in the game and a staple of teams that prize floor spacing.
How the three-pointer shapes strategy
Because a three is worth 50 percent more than a two, teams increasingly build offenses around creating open looks from distance. Actions such as the pick-and-roll are often designed to bend the defense and free a shooter behind the arc. Defenses respond by stretching out to contest, which in turn opens driving lanes to the rim. Timing matters too: with a limited shot clock, a quick catch-and-shoot three can be a high-value way to score late in a possession.
Understanding the arc, where it sits, how it differs by league, and what makes a shot count, is essential to reading the modern game. Whether you are watching an NBA game, a FIBA international, or an NCAA tournament matchup, the three-pointer is the same idea with one key variable: how far back the line is drawn.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the three-point line in the NBA?
The NBA three-point line is 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket at the top of the arc. In the corners it flattens to 22 feet so the line stays inbounds. That makes the NBA arc the deepest used in major basketball.
Is the college and international three-point line the same distance?
Yes. FIBA and NCAA basketball both use 6.75 meters, which is about 22 feet 1.75 inches, at the top of the arc. NCAA men adopted this distance in 2019-20 and NCAA women followed in 2021-22. The WNBA also uses the FIBA distance.
Do both feet have to be behind the line?
Both feet must be on or behind the arc at the moment the ball is released. A player can leap across the line after releasing the ball and still score three. If a foot touches the line on takeoff, the basket counts for two.
Why is the corner three shorter?
A perfect semicircle at full distance would run off the court, so the arc is flattened into straight segments near each sideline. In the NBA this makes the corner three 22 feet, almost two feet closer than the top of the key, and one of the most efficient shots in the game.
What is a four-point play?
A four-point play happens when a shooter is fouled while making a three-pointer. The made basket counts for three points, and the player then shoots one free throw for a possible fourth point. It is a rare and high-value sequence.
How many free throws do you get if fouled on a three?
A player fouled on a missed three-point attempt is awarded three free throws. If the three-pointer is made despite the foul, the shooter keeps the three points and shoots one free throw instead.
