The key is a marked area on a basketball court surrounding the basket, where much of the game's action takes place. The key is officially referred to as the free throw lane by the National Basketball
In this basketball game played in 1942, the key was much narrower than the free-throw circle.
Wally Szczerbiak shoots a free throw; in most leagues, the team of the free throw shooter has at most two players (aside from the free throw shooter) on the sides of the key, while the opposing team has three.
Jason Bohannon shoots a free throw; in the American NCAA and NAIA, there can be at most three players on each side of the key during a free throw.
The International Basketball Federation is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and f
Key (basketball)
…Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). It is referred to as the restricted area by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The key is also simply called the lane. The key consists of what is colloquially known as the circle and the post. The post, which overlaps…
FIBA headquarters in Mies, Switzerland