In international basketball and in Olympic games, the free-throw or 3-second lane in basketball has what geometrical shape?

While many basketball fans are accustomed to the rectangular area under the hoop, the court used for decades in international and Olympic play had a different look. In the version of the game governed by FIBA (the International Basketball Federation), the 3-second lane was shaped like a trapezoid. This design was narrower at the free-throw line and gradually widened as it extended to the baseline, creating its distinctive sloped sides.

This trapezoidal "key" was the original standard in the sport for many years. The NBA, however, famously switched to a wider, rectangular lane in the 1950s. This change was made largely to counter the dominance of towering centers like George Mikan, as the wider lane made it more difficult for them to camp near the basket. While the NBA forged ahead with its rectangle, FIBA and the rest of the world stuck with the traditional trapezoid for over half a century longer.

To better standardize the game globally and create more space for action under the basket, FIBA officially updated its court markings in 2010. It adopted the rectangular lane that is now used in almost all major competitions worldwide. This change makes the trapezoidal lane a classic feature of a previous era of international basketball, and a great piece of sports history.