Glossary of Basketball TermsLearn about the game of Basketball.
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alive : a ball is alive when it is released by a shooter or thrower, or legally tapped by a jumper during a jump ball; the game clock starts only when the ball becomes alive; compare with live.
alternating-possession rule : in college, the possession arrow changes direction after each subsequent jump ball situation, alternating which team gets possession for the throw-in.
assist : the last pass to a teammate that leads directly to a field goal; the scorer must move immediately toward the basket for the passer to be credited with an assist; only 1 assist can be credited per field goal.
backboard : the rectangular structure, 6' x 3 1/2', to which the basket is attached.
backcourt : the area from the midcourt line to the end line furthest from the offense's basket.
ball handler : the player with the ball; usually the point guard at the start of a play.
bank shot : a shot where the ball is first bounced (or banked) off the backboard at such an angle that it then drops into the basket.
baseline : see "end line".
basket : attached to the backboard, it consists of a metal rim 18" in diameter suspended 10' from the floor, from which a 15-18" corded net hangs, and through which points are scored; also used to refer to a successful field goal.
beat the defender : when an offensive player, with or without the ball, is able to get past an opponent who is guarding him.
blind pass : a pass from a ball handler who does not see his receiver, but is estimating where he should be.
blocked shot : the successful deflection of a shot by touching part of the ball on its way to the basket, thereby preventing a field goal.
blocking : the use of a defender's body position to illegally prevent an opponent's advance; the opposite of charging.
boosters : alumni supporters of college teams.
boxing out : a player's attempt to position his body between his opponents and the basket to get rebounds and prevent the opponents from doing so.
break : see fast break.
center circle : the circular area at midcourt from which jump balls are taken.
charging : an offensive foul which occurs when an offensive player runs into a defender who has established position.
clear out : see one-on-one showdown.
Commissioner : the president of the NBA.
court : the 94' x 50' area bounded by 2 sidelines and 2 end lines containing a basket at each end, on which a basketball game is played.
court vision : a player's ability to see everything on the court during play - such as where his teammates and defenders are set up � which enables him to make better choices in passing; the best point guards possess this.
crossover dribble : when a ball handler dribbles the ball across his body from one hand to the other.
cylinder : the imaginary area directly above the basket where goaltending or basket interference can occur.
dead ball : any ball that is not live; occurs after each successful field goal or free-throw attempt, after any official's whistle or if the ball leaves the court; it stops play which is then resumed by a jump ball, throw-in or free-throw.
defense : the act of preventing the offense from scoring; the team without the ball.
defensive rebound : a rebound of an opponent's missed shot.
double team : when two teammates join efforts in guarding a single opponent.
downcourt or down the court : the direction a team on offense moves, from its backcourt into its frontcourt and towards its own basket.
draft : the method by which NBA teams annually select college or foreign players to their teams, designed to promote balanced competition in the NBA.
Dream Team : the name given by the media to the U.S. basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; it was the first time non-amateurs were permitted to represent the country; the members of this team were Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton. In the 1996 Olympics, the U.S. team was called Dream Team II and in 2000, Dream Team III.
dribble or dribbling : when a player repeatedly pushes, pats, taps or bats the ball toward the floor with one hand to cause the ball to bounce back up to either of his hands; used to advance the ball or keep control of it.
dribble series : a number of consecutive dribbles which end when a player allows the ball to rest in one or both hands; a player is only permitted one dribble series before he must pass or shoot.
drive to the basket : to move rapidly toward the basket with the ball.
dunk : when a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.
elbowing : it is a violation if a player vigorously or excessively swings his elbows, even if there is no contact; it is a foul if contact is made, and an automatic ejection if that contact is above shoulder level.
end line : the boundary line behind each basket; also called the baseline.
established position : when a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before an offensive player's head and shoulder get past him; the offensive player who runs into such a defender is charging.
fake or feint : a deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an opponent.
fast break : also called the run-and-shoot offense, it begins with a defensive rebound by a player who immediately sends an outlet pass toward midcourt to his waiting teammates; these teammates can sprint to their basket and quickly shoot before enough opponents catch up to stop them.
field goal : when the ball enters the basket from above during play; worth 2 points, or 3 points if the shooter was standing behind the 3-point line.
Finals, NBA : the annual championship series of the NBA's post-season.
Final Four : the 4 regional champions (West, East, Midwest and Southeast) remaining from the 64 college teams that compete in the annual NCAA Tournament; they play one another to determine the national champion.
flagrant foul : unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.
floor : the area of the court within the end lines and sidelines.
floor violation : a player's action that violates the rules but does not prevent an opponent's movement or cause him harm; penalized by a change in possession.
forwards : the 2 players on the court for a team who are usually smaller than the center and bigger than the guards; often a team's highest scorers.
foul : actions by players which break the rules but are not floor violations; penalized by a change in possession or free-throw opportunities; see personal foul or technical foul.
foul lane : the painted area 19' x 16' (12' in college) bordered by the end line and the foul line, outside which players must stand during a free-throw; also the area an offensive player cannot spend more than 3-seconds at a time in.
foul line : the line 15' from the backboard and parallel to the end line from which players shoot free-throws.
foul shot : see free-throw.
4-point play : a 3-point shot followed by a successful free-throw.
franchise : a professional team.
franchise player : a star player around which a franchise is built.
free agent, restricted : an NBA player whose contract has expired and who has received a "qualifying offer" from his current club which provides a salary level predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement. While this player is free to negotiate an offer from a new team, his current team has a right of first refusal to match that offer, thereby obligating him to remain with his current team.
free agent, unrestricted : a player who has completed his 3rd NBA season (or 4th season, if his current team exercised its "option" to have him play for a 4th year) and is free to negotiate a contract with other NBA teams without his current team having a right of first refusal.
free-throw : an unguarded shot taken from the foul line by a player whose opponent committed a personal or technicalfoul; it is worth 1 point.
free-throw line : see foul line.
free-throw line extended : an imaginary line drawn from the free-throwline to the sideline to determine the location for certain throw-ins.
frontcourt : the area between the midcourt line and the end line closest to the offense's basket.
full-court press : when defenders start guarding the offense in the backcourt.
game clock : shows how much time remains in each of the four 12-minute quarters of an NBA game or two 20-minute halves of a college game.
guards : the 2 players on each team who are the smallest on the court; they usually handle setting up plays and passing to teammates closer to the basket.
guarding : the act of following an opponent around the court to prevent him from getting close to the basket, taking an open shot or making easy an pass, while avoiding illegal contact.
half-court or set offense : when a team takes the time to develop a play in its frontcourt, such as the give-and-go or a screening play; opposite of "full-court fast-break" offense.
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