Los 40 USA
Sign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA

NBA

What are points from ‘inside the paint’ in the NBA?

The NBA lexicon is full of specific jargon relating to plays and styles of scoring.

vica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers takes a shot against Maxi Kleber #42 of the Dallas Mavericks in the second half during game one of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
RONALD MARTINEZAFP

Every sport has their own particular vernacular from soccer’s: nutmegs, box-to-box players, howlers through to baseball’s Baltimore chop and walk-offs. Basketball is no exception and for the uninitiated, match commentary can sound like double-dutch at times with the action being coloured with talk of shots from downtown, alley-oops and toilet bowl baskets.

Scoring fromIn the Paint’ is another common and highly used basketball terminology, so what and where exactly is the paint and the origin of the expression?

The term comes about with many courts having the area inside the three point line and close to the basket painted in a different colour scheme from the surrounding area of the court.

A general view of the Sacramento Kings playing against the Golden State Warriors during the Play-In Tournament
Full screen
A general view of the Sacramento Kings playing against the Golden State Warriors during the Play-In Tournament EZRA SHAWAFP

The key measures from the baseline below the basket all the way to the free throw line, which is 15 feet away. In the NBA the key is 16 feet wide, but that measurement changes with different levels of play.

Points scored inside the paint are usually high percentage shots like layups, dunks and post-ups and outsourcing your opponent in the paint is usually an indicator of team success and efficiency.