Follow-up Trivia Poll

NO FAIR LOOKING THIS UP EITHER: Was the current shortest distance between the foul line and the rim always the same distance in the NBA?

Answer Sunday night.

I asked Spock, and he said, "Logically, the need to ask the question supports the idea that a difference did exist. Logically speaking, of course."

Okay, Captain Kirk, then how much was the difference, and why did it exist?

Sam

I believe the flat area on the back of the rim is bigger now that in the early NBA years. Just have no idea as to why but just from looking at photos it appears bigger. Perhaps something to due with how they were/are bolted to the backboard.

beat

You got it, Beat.  Might as well put everyone out of his/her misery.  The shortest distance between the foul line and the front of the rim is 13' 0".  The diameter of the rim is 18".  The flat piece fastening the rim to the backboard measures six inches.  Thus, the basket is 15 feet from the backboard and 13 feet from the front of the rim.

I've assumed that, since the backboard was bolted directly to the basket in the old days (with no flat metal connection), then the basket in those days was only 12' 6" away from the free throw line and the backboard only 14" 6" from the foul line.  But, now that I think about it, it's more likely that they just moved the free throw line back six inches to make the distances the current length of 13' 0" from the free throw line to the front of the rim and the backboard (which is the official measuring-off distance for the free throw line) 15' 0" from the backboard.

That flat, six-inch metal is responsible for the fact that today's rims are a lot more "forgiving" than in the 50s and 60s.  So are today's breakaway baskets.

The tighter rims in the 50s and 60s (along with the volume strategy and rapid pace of games) were responsible for lower shooting percentages in those days.  In the past, I have posted a quote from Bill Sharman indicating how he wished he could have shot at today's baskets.

Sam

I thought the free throw distance was the one inviolate constant the game had. You now make me question the very foundation of the universe.

Outside, I need to make clear that I'm calling myself wrong in my assumption that the distances were different in the old days. The greater likelihood is that they simply painted the foul line six inches farther from the backboard to maintain the 15' distance between foul line an backboard.

The one variable today (besides breakaway baskets of course) is that six inch piece between today's backboards and rims.

Sam

It's still messing with my mind like Einstein messing with Newtonian physics. I can't unlearn the thought that the distance has varied, even if not as much as you originally thought it had.

Actually, it didn't vary even 1/16 of an inch. I now believe the free throw line has always been exactly 15 feet from the backboard, and they dealt with the advent of the six-inch connector by moving the free throw line back a commensurate 6".

Sam

Still, just the idea that the free throw distance could vary has messed with my head. I'll have to watch that scene from Hoosiers about five times, the one where they measure the free throw distance in the big arena, to restore the balance to the universe.

Sam

I believe that the flat metal connecting plate existed back in the 50's-60's.

swish

Not so, Swish. The basked was bolted directly to the backboard.

Sam

Sam-- do you have a link to verify your opinion ?

swish

Sam,

I looked at some Cousy highlights, and there does appear to be that flat connecting plate.



For whatever reason, the best views are when the basket is on the right of the camera instead of the left. There's a pretty good closeup view at 1:54 of the video.