Basketball Court vs. Olympic Pool
Comparing 2 standards across 19 specifications. 19 key differences identified.
Official basketball courts are standardized by the NBA (94 × 50 ft / 28.65 × 15.24 m) and FIBA (28.0 × 15.0 m / 91.86 × 49.21 ft). Across all governing bodies, the basketball rim is mounted strictly at 10 ft (3.048 m) above the court with an 18 in (45.7 cm) diameter. The 3-point line measures 23.75 ft (7.24 m) in the NBA and 6.75 m (22.15 ft) under FIBA rules.
Official competition swimming pools are regulated by World Aquatics (formerly FINA Swimming Facilities Rules). An Olympic-standard long-course pool measures exactly 50.020 m in length (50.00 m with touchpad timing plates installed), 25.0 m in width across 10 lanes (8 active lanes of 2.50 m with two 2.50 m outer wave-buffer lanes), and a uniform depth of 2.0–3.0 m. Water temperature is held strictly at 25.0–28.0 °C (77–82.4 °F).
Specification Comparison Table
19 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
NBA Court Dimensions
|
28.65 × 15.24 m (94.0 × 50.0 ft) | — |
|
FIBA Court Dimensions
|
28.00 × 15.00 m (91.86 × 49.21 ft) | — |
|
Rim Height (Floor to Rim Top)
|
3.048 m (10.0 ft / 120.0 in universal) | — |
|
Rim Inner Diameter
|
45.7 cm (18.0 in solid steel with net hooks) | — |
|
Backboard Dimensions
|
1.80 × 1.05 m (72.0 × 42.0 in transparent tempered glass) | — |
|
Free Throw Line Distance
|
4.57 m (15.0 ft from backboard plane / 19 ft from baseline) | — |
|
NBA 3-Point Arc Radius
|
7.24 m (23.75 ft top of key / 22.0 ft at corners) | — |
|
FIBA 3-Point Arc Radius
|
6.75 m (22.15 ft top of key / 6.60 m at corners) | — |
|
Key / Paint Width
|
4.88 m (16.0 ft NBA / 4.90 m FIBA rectangular key) | — |
|
Center Circle Diameter
|
3.66 m (12.0 ft outer diameter) | — |
|
Pool Length (with Touchpads)
|
— | 50.00 m (164.04 ft exact between touchpads) |
|
Pool Width
|
— | 25.00 m (82.02 ft) |
|
Total Lane Count
|
— | 10 Lanes (Lanes 1–8 racing, Lanes 0 and 9 wave buffers) |
|
Individual Lane Width
|
— | 2.50 m (8.20 ft per lane) |
|
Standard Competition Depth
|
— | 2.00–3.00 m (6.56–9.84 ft uniform depth) |
|
Total Water Volume
|
— | 2,500,000–3,750,000 liters (~660,000–990,000 US gallons) |
|
Water Temperature Regulation
|
— | 25.0–28.0 °C (77.0–82.4 °F strictly enforced) |
|
Touchpad Thickness
|
— | 10.0 mm (0.39 in per electronic sensor board) |
|
Starting Block Height
|
— | 0.50–0.75 m above the water surface with 10° tilt |