Have you ever been to a basketball game and wondered how tall is a basketball hoop? In basketball, the hoop is 10 feet high above the floor. And this height was set by James Naismith in 1891, who is known as the father of basketball.
There have been many changes in basketball; however, the three-point line was initially not used, but it was decided to be set at 20 feet from the hoop in the corners. Dribbling was also not part of the game when it first began, and players would simply toss the ball up and then shoot. Similarly, the basket itself has changed over time as well.
Once made it out of metal, and later on, the net was added to create ease for players while making goals. Moreover, the backboard material has also changed over time; it is now often made out of tempered glass. And the answer to how tall is a basketball loop has remained the same since the inception of basketball.
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HOW TALL IS A BASKETBALL HOOP IN NBA?
While searching for the answer to how tall is a basketball hoop and why this height, we came to know that basketball, which Naismith invented in 1891, would use baskets, and after scoring a goal, they would bring a ladder to take back the ball in possession. Since this method was not feasible, Naismith decided to replace it with a hoop and net. At that time, he decided that the height would remain at 10 feet since all the average basketball players’ height was quite taller. Moreover, that height is still followed by NBA and seems perfect.
Adding to that, the height of a basketball hoop is ten feet. However, currently, the average NBA height is 6’6″, which is more than what it was back in the 50s. For that reason, it has become easier for players to dunk. On the contrary, women are not good at dunking because the average height of WNBA is 5’11” that is much smaller than men.
HOW TALL IS A BASKETBALL HOOP: MEASURING HOOP HEIGHT
Hoop height is one of the most essential measurements in basketball because its height can help players determine how high they need to jump to score, and it can also help defenders determine how high they need to jump to contest shots. Measuring the height is quite simple; however, it is essential to note that measurements start from the rim of the hoop until the floor.
ONE-TIME CHANGE TO RIM HEIGHT
We know how tall is a basketball hoop. But the more exciting event took place in 1954 when NBA took a strange decision that made everyone wonder, “why would NBA take such a decision. However, according to a statement released by NBA, it was due to the height of GEORGE MIKAN since he was closer to 7 feet and could easily make goals.
According to that decision, the rim was raised from 10 to 12 feet for a single match to see if it could stop George from dominating the game. The results of that match showed something otherwise than what they had expected, and NBA took their decision back, i.e., to keep the rim height again at 10 feet.
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COLOR ON RIM
So far, we have learned how tall is a basketball hoop; now it’s time to know more about rim color. The history of the orange basketball hoop rim can be traced back to November 28, 1891, when Dr. James Naismith, a Physical Education instructor at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, invented what we now know as basketball.
Naismith’s original goal was to create a physically and mentally stimulating game. Furthermore, he chose to use an orange ball as it was the only color that could be seen from far away, and it was easy to distinguish between players on the court.
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CONCLUSION
A basketball hoop is typically 10 feet high; in addition to knowing how tall is a basketball hoop it’s essential to learn variations in the height of a basketball hoop that depends on the level of play. For example, a professional hoop is often taller than a hoop for recreational use. Whether you’re shooting for the net or just playing around with friends, make sure you know the height of the hoop to ensure a successful game.
Thank you for reading!
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