The Key (Painted Area / Lane)

The key, also known as the paint, free throw lane, or restricted area, is the rectangular region beneath each basket: Width: 16 feet (4.88 m) — the NBA widened the lane from 12 feet to 16 feet in 1951 to reduce dominant post play; Length: 19 feet (5.79 m) from the baseline to the free throw line;...

Send this to your friend — argument over.