The basic concept of the game of basketball is to score more points than the other team.
This involves shooting a ball through a basket and the team with the most baskets will win.
There is more to it than that, but you get the idea.
In order to shoot the ball into the basket, it’s important to know the size of both the basket and the ball as the ball needs to fit through the hoop to score points.
Keep reading to find out the exact diameter of a basketball hoop along with other interesting basketball size information.
Basketball hoop rim diameter
The diameter of a basketball hoop rim used by professional leagues including the NBA, universities, and high schools is 18 inches or 45.72 centimeters. The diameter is measured from the inside of the rim and is the distance through the center of the rim dividing it into 2 equal parts. The radius of a basketball hoop rim is 9 inches.
According to the NBA equipment size regulations, rule number 1, section 2 states that the NBA-approved metal safety ring must be 18 inches in diameter.
Basketball diameter size
The diameter of a regulation-size basketball is 9.51 inches. Knowing that the rim diameter is 18 inches, it’s easy to see that the ball will fit into the basket with room to spare.
What is a size 7 basketball?
You may have heard that basketballs are given a number based on their size.
For example, a size 7 basketball is one that has a circumference of 29.5 inches.
They also have a weight of 22 ounces.
The size 7 ball is commonly used in pro basketball leagues like the NBA.
How much air does a basketball hold?
According to the NBA rule book mentioned above, the basketball must have between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds of pressure.
A deflated or over-inflated ball will affect the size and weight of the ball.
Will 2 basketballs fit in the rim?
Now that you know the size of both the basketball and the rim, you may be wondering if 2 basketballs will fit in the rim.
The answer is yes and no. There is a size difference between men’s and women’s basketballs. The basketballs used in men’s leagues are 9.51 inches and in women’s leagues are 9 inches. So technically if filled with the right amount of air, 2 men’s basketballs will fit in the rim but will not fall through. But 2 women’s basketballs will fit inside the rim with enough space to fall through.
How tall is the basketball hoop rim?
In all basketball leagues, a basketball hoop is 10 feet tall. This is measured from the ground to the rim.
What is the size and purpose of the backboard?
Every basketball hoop is connected to a backboard that is 6 feet wide and 3.5 feet tall.
On the backboard, it’s required to have a 2-inch white rectangle shape that is 24 inches wide and 18 inches tall.
The purpose of the backboard and inner rectangle is to help the shooter aim and bank the basketball into the hoop. The backboard can be used for either a layup or bank shot, or a shot from a distance which will help guide the ball into the hoop.
Other information regarding basketball hoops and rims
The basketball rims used in most professional leagues are called Enclosed spring breakaway rims.
These are used for safety and long-lasting purposes.
Each hoop in the NBA consists of a pressure-release NBA-approved metal safety ring.
There are several factors that go into determining how much weight a basketball net can hold, but on average they are designed to hold around 230 pounds.
Attached to the basketball hoop, is a white cord net that is 18 inches long. It also must not be less than 30 thread or more than 130 thread.