<P> The distance from the basket to the three - point line varies by competition level: in the National Basketball Association (NBA) the arc is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the basket; in FIBA and the WNBA (the latter uses FIBA's three - point line standard) the arc is 6.75 metres or 22 feet 1 ⁄ inches from the basket; and in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) the arc is 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 m) from the basket . In the NBA and FIBA / WNBA, the three - point line becomes parallel to each sideline at the points where the arc is 3 feet (0.91 m) from each sideline; as a result the distance from the basket gradually decreases to a minimum of 22 feet (6.71 m). In the NCAA the arc is continuous for 180 ° around the basket . There are more variations (see main article). </P> <P> In 3x3, a FIBA - sanctioned variant of the half - court 3 - on - 3 game, the "three - point" line exists, but shots from behind the line are only worth 2 points . All other shots are worth 1 point . </P> <P> The three - point line was first tested at the collegiate level in a 1945 NCAA game between Columbia and Fordham but it was not kept as a rule . At the direction of Abe Saperstein, the American Basketball League became the first basketball league to institute the rule in 1961 . Its three - point line was a radius of 25 feet (7.62 m) from the baskets, except along the sides . The Eastern Professional Basketball League followed in its 1963--64 season . </P> <P> The three - point shot later became popularized by the American Basketball Association after its introduction in the 1967--68 season . Then commissioner of the ABA George Mikan stated the three - pointer "would give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable for the fans ." During the 1970s, the ABA used the three - point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the National Basketball Association (NBA). </P>

When did the three point shot start in basketball