Our Sports Feel Good Stories Basketball Dictionary: Terms and definitions define terms and expressions used in basketball. And we try to go one or two steps further by offering more detailed text and videos to explain concepts.
This is the main menu page where we briefly define basketball terms. However, the term’s link will take you to a more detailed explanation, which often includes strategies and tactics surrounding that definition. We’ll constantly add new basketball terms and definitions, so check back often.
Dictionary of Basketball Terms
Airball — An unsuccessful shot attempt in basketball that entirely misses the backboard, rim, and net.
And One—“And One” is a colloquial term for a play in which a player receives one additional free throw for being fouled while making a shot. The referees often announce the play as “basket counted and one,” referring to the extra free throw given to the fouled player. The most points an offensive player gets in an “and one” play is four. This happens when he is fouled while attempting and making a three-point shot.
Assists — An assist in basketball is defined as a pass by a player to his teammate that directly leads to a made field goal. No matter how many passes are made before the shot, the only credited “assist” is the pass that created the basket. The pass that leads to the assist is often called a “hockey assist” in basketball circles.
Basketball Slang and Lingo — Informal words and phrases used by basketball players, commentators, and fans to describe the game. Learn the meaning of heat check, breaking ankles, and dropping dimes.
Discover Cameron and Cayden’s basketball journey to Duke and their appearance in the NCAA Tourney as the top seed.
Hoops Definitions
Block Shots — “Block shots” or blocks are a successful deflection of an attempted shot. This means the ball is deflected in another direction before it reaches the rim. It is considered one of the most exciting defensive plays and a momentum-changer. When a shot-blocker is present, the offense often thinks twice about attempting shots near the rim.
Boxing Out—Boxing out, also called blocking out, typically occurs during rebound situations. A box-out is a basketball positioning style that puts one in a better spot to rebound. To box out, a player moves his body into an opposing player’s, impeding his progress.
Check out NBA Top Shot: Next Level Basketball Collectibles
Essential Basketball Definitions
Clear Path Foul — A clear path foul is one of the rarest fouls that may occur in the NBA. It is called when a defender fouls an offensive player who has the ball, and there is no one between that player and the basket.
Crossover Dribble — A crossover dribble, known as the crossover, is a move executed by an offensive player to change direction. He must swiftly flick the ball from one hand to another to do this. While any player with the ball can pull off this move, ball-handling guards often use this dribble to free themselves from the defender.
A Double-Double is when a player records double-digits in two of the five main stats. These stats are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For example, if Enes Kanter had 18 points and 12 rebounds, he would have a double-double. Likewise, if Ja Morant records 21 points and 13 assists, that is also considered a double-double.
Euro Step or Eurostep — Also called the side step or the two-step, a Euro step is an offensive move that aims to evade a defender. The offensive player picks up the dribble, takes one step in one direction, then takes a long step in the other. If done correctly, the offensive player quickly goes around the defender for a finish around the basket.
See our How long is a basketball game? (NBA, WNBA, NCAA, High School, and more)
Know Your Stuff
Fadeaway — One of the most challenging shots to attempt, however, is the fadeaway. It is somewhat derived from a jump shot. Instead of jumping straight up and down, the fadeaway requires a player to lean back and jump. This creates separation from the defender, so it’s harder to block.
Fast Break — A fast break is an offensive strategy in basketball. The offense looks for a quick way to score before the defense is set by pushing the ball up the floor. The offense also creates an advantage by sending more players on the attack than the other team has for their defense.
See how the NBA playoffs work?
Basketball Glossary
Full-court Press—The full-court press is a defensive style that applies pressure to the entire length of the basketball court. In this type of defense, intense pressure is applied when the inbounds pass puts the ball in play. (Some coaches may preach denying the inbounds pass in a full-court press.) The full-court press may be enforced using a man-to-man defense or a zone press.
Quarters in Basketball — An NBA quarter is 12 minutes in length. Four quarters, or 48 minutes, make up regulation time.
Hook Shot—The hook shot is a shot attempt primarily taken by taller players at close range to the basket. The player turns sideways and smoothly delivers the ball sweepingly with an upward trajectory to complete the hook shot. The shooting usually starts from the side and ends up over the head in a follow-through. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook was incredibly practical and played a significant role in becoming one of the NBA’s all-time scoring leaders.
Motion Offense — A basketball offensive scheme. As the name suggests, it requires player movement to succeed. It follows a set of rules but is generally free-flowing and unrestricted.
NIT Tournament — Typically, a 32-team college basketball tournament. Generally, the NIT is considered a consolation prize for D1 teams that do not make the NCAA postseason tournament.
Basketball Positions Explained
Know Your Basketball
Princeton Offense—Pete Carril of Princeton University created the Princeton offense, a complex basketball strategy emphasizing back-door cuts, constant motion, and setting picks on and off the ball.
Pull-back Dribble — A pull-back dribble is a dribble move used to create separation from a defender hellbent on beating you to a spot. If done correctly, it gives you space to shoot or pass. At full speed, the pull-back dribble could result in the defender’s complete embarrassment as he tries to stay in front of an offensive player executing the move.
Quarters in Basketball — 25% of the game length. Four quarters complete a game unless there is an overtime period. In the NBA, a quarter is 12 minutes long.
Shot Clock — In basketball, the term “shot clock” refers to the time a team must attempt a field goal. In the NBA, the shot clock starts at 24 seconds. According to the NBA rule book, the shot clock is displayed in seconds. The exception is when the time reaches five seconds. By then, it will display tenths of a second, such as 4.9, 4.8, etc.
Shooting Form—This term refers to a player’s shooting mechanics in basketball. The mechanics or manner of shooting the shot are integral to making it. You may have noticed that all great shooters have impeccable shooting techniques.
Basketball Expressions
Slam Dunk — A “Slam Dunk” is one of the most electrifying maneuvers in basketball. It is a shot where a player jumps high enough to force the ball through the rim using one or both hands. See 7 Things You May Not Know About Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.
Three-pointer—Also called a trey or a three, a three-pointer is a shot made anywhere beyond the designated three-point arc. It is worth three points instead of two standard points for a bucket. In the modern analytics-driven era of basketball, the three-pointer is encouraged since it is worth 50% more than the regular two-point field goal.
Triple-double — A player scores ten or more in three statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Zone Defense — A zone defense is different from man-to-man coverage. Instead of guarding a particular player, the defense has its members guard a designated area or “zone.” A zone defense shifts or moves depending on where the ball is.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. Find time to watch a game, or better yet, shoot some hoops.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
Overtime
You are on our Basketball Terms and Definitions – The Dictionary page.
You might like:
