The Center Court Circle, also known as the jump circle, is a 12-foot diameter circle located at the very center of the basketball court.
This circle is divided in half by the midcourt line that runs from sideline to sideline. The primary purpose of the center court circle is to serve as the location for the opening tip-off to start the game and any jump balls that occur during play.
During a jump ball, one player from each team stands inside the circle on their respective side of the midcourt line. The referee then tosses the ball up between them, and the players attempt to tap it to their teammates positioned outside the circle.