<P> The key , free throw lane or shaded lane refers to the usually painted area beneath the basket ; for the NBA it is 16 feet ( 4.9 m ) wide , for the NCAA it is 12 feet ( 3.7 m ) wide ; for both instances it extends 15 feet ( 4.6 m ) from the backboard . At the top of the rectangle is the free throw line , behind which players shoot uncontested shots when they 're fouled . A circle is drawn around the free - throw line with a 6 feet ( 1.8 m ) radius ; this is used for jump ball instances , as is done at the center circle . Two 6 - inch hash lines , 3 ft from the free throw lane line and 5 ft 8 in from the free throw line , show the lower defensive box linked to the restricted area . </P>
<P> The key , free throw lane or shaded lane refers to the usually painted area beneath the basket ; for the NBA it is 16 feet ( 4.9 m ) wide , for the NCAA it is 12 feet ( 3.7 m ) wide ; for both instances it extends 15 feet ( 4.6 m ) from the backboard . At the top of the rectangle is the free throw line , behind which players shoot uncontested shots when they 're fouled . A circle is drawn around the free - throw line with a 6 feet ( 1.8 m ) radius ; this is used for jump ball instances , as is done at the center circle . Two 6 - inch hash lines , 3 ft from the free throw lane line and 5 ft 8 in from the free throw line , show the lower defensive box linked to the restricted area . </P>
where is the free throw line measured from
where is the free throw line measured from
15 feet ( 4.6 m ) from the backboard
15 feet ( 4.6 m ) from the backboard