What is the key basketball?

The key in basketball is also called the free throw lane or the restricted area. It is a painted rectangular area on the floor underneath the basket. The dimensions of the key are 16 feet wide and 15 feet long. It is divided from the rest of the court by two parallel lines that stretch from the baseline to the free throw line, and a half-circle that connects those lines and is 6 feet in radius.

The key has several important rules in basketball. Offensive players cannot stay inside the key for more than 3 seconds at a time, or they will be called for a violation known as a three-second violation. Defensive players are not allowed to stand in the restricted area when guarding an offensive player, unless they are making a play on the ball or the offensive player is in the act of shooting.

The key is also important for free throw shooting. When a player is awarded free throws due to a foul, they stand at the free throw line, which is located on the edge of the key and parallel to the baseline. The free throw line is 15 feet from the basket and is where players shoot free throws from.

Overall, the key is a critical part of basketball and helps ensure that the game is played fairly and safely.