THE Basketball Glossary
In the ever changing sport of basketball, new terminology seems to pop up every single day. It's hard enough keeping up these days but especially when so many terms have multiple names or even double meanings. My goal is to compile every basketball term I come across and help simplify the game as much as possible. If there's some terms that aren't on my list please send an email with a description and we will get it on there!
1: The offensive designation for the point guard.
2: The offensive designation for the shooting guard.
3: The offensive designation for the small forward.
4: The offensive designation for the power forward.
5: The offensive designation for the center.
X1: The defensive player guarding the point guard.
X2: The defensive player guarding the shooting guard.
X3: The defensive player guarding the small forward.
X4: The defensive player guarding the power forward.
X5: The defensive player guarding the center.
Air ball: Slang for when a shot misses the basket or backboard entirely.
Alley-oop: When one player throws a pass to a player who is in mid-air and dunks the ball into the basket without first landing on the court.
And-one: Slang term used when a player scores a basket and is fouled on the play, earning two points "and one" free throw attempt.
Assist: A pass that leads directly to a basket by a teammate.
Back to the point of attack:
Backcourt: This term can describe either the area of the court of play which is the area away from the offensive basket or to describe the guard players on a basketball team.
Backcourt violation: Once a team has possession on its offensive end of the court, it cannot touch the ball on the other half of the court unless the opposing team touches the ball first.
Bank shot: A shot aimed at the backboard so that it caroms, or "banks," into the basket.
Bench: Slang for a team's reserve players.
Blitz: A screen or pick and roll coverage where the screen defender and ball handler defender double the ball handler and stay until the ball leaves the ball handlers hands.
Blocked shot: When a defensive player legally deflects an opponent's field-goal attempt.
Brick: Slang for a hard, errant shot that bounces wildly off the basket or backboard.
Boxes and elbows:
Center: Usually the tallest player on a team, the center plays near the basket and is primarily responsible
for rebounding, scoring and blocking shots. This position can also be referred to as a "five."
Charging: When an offensive player runs into an opponent who has established a stationary defensive position. The offending player is charged with a personal foul.
Charity stripe: Another term for the free throw line.
Cut: A quick move by an offensive player, used to create separation from a defender.
Cylinder: The rim and the area directly above it.
Diag/Diagonal: Is a receiver spot usually at the 45 and opposite of the drive from a ball handler.
Dime: Another term for an assist.
Double-double: Term for when a player reaches double digits in two stat categories in a single game, for example 10+ points and 10+ rebounds.
Double dribble: A violation that occurs when a player discontinues his or her dribble and then begins it again. The result is loss of possession.
Double-team: A defensive tactic in which two players guard one.
Drag: A screen set, often by a 4 or 5 from the trailer spot in transition.
Drift: The receiver spot for a guard when the ball handler drives towards them. A player will "drift" to the corner.
Drops: A screen coverage where the guard defender will fight over the screen and the screen defender will drop back to protect the paint and force a long 2.
Dunk: Slang term for forcibly putting the basketball through the hoop. Also known as a slam dunk.
Dunker Spot:
Fade away:
Fast break: An offensive tactic in which the team that gains possession of the ball pushes it quickly into the opponent's end of the court, hoping to get a good shot off before the other team has a chance to set up on defense.
FIBA: Federation Internationale de Basketball, or the International Basketball Federation, is international basketball's governing body.
Field goal: A basket scored on a shot taken during the normal course of play. Can be a two-point or three-point shot.
Flood:
Free throw: An uncontested shot from a designated mark on the floor (the free throw line) 15 feet from the basket. A free-throw attempt is awarded after personal fouls that occur during a shot attempt, all technical fouls, and when the foul limit is reached in a quarter. A free throw is worth one point. Also known as a "foul shot."
Fouling out: According to FIBA rules, a player who accumulates five personal fouls is disqualified from the remainder of the game.
Front Court: This term can describe either the area of the court of play which is the area away from the defensive basket or to describe the forward players on a basketball team.
Full-court press: A tactic in which a team defends the entire length of the court. A full-court press is intended to pressure an opponent into turning the ball over.
Gets: Also known as a give and go. An action where a player throws the ball to a team mate with the intention of running off the team mate to receive the ball on a hand off.
Give-and-go: An offensive tactic in which a player passes to a teammate, then makes an abrupt cut and receives a return pass.
Goaltending: Defensive goaltending occurs when a player blocks an opposing player's shot as it descends toward the basket; in this case, the shot is considered good. An offensive goaltending violation occurs when an offensive player touches the ball while it is on the rim of his team's basket or above the cylinder. There is no offensive goaltending in international play.
Gortat screen: A screen in which the screening player screens the defender guarding the ball, and then sprints to the basket and rescreens their player that is intended to pick up the ball handler.
High post: Generally considered the upper third of the key. A player stationed in this area offensively is said to operate "in the high post."
Hook shot: A one-handed shot taken with a high, sweeping motion. Hook shots are especially difficult to block because the shooter's body shields the defender.
Hoops: Slang term for basketball.
Hops: Slang term for jumping.
Ice: A ball screen coverage in which the ball defender denies the offensive player from using the ball screen and the screen defender drops back to protect the basket.
Jump ball: When players from opposing teams gain possession of the ball at the same time, also described as a tie-up. Since the Olympics alternates possession to determine who gets the ball after a tie-up, there will only be a jump ball at the start of each game.
Lane: The outlined or painted area near the basket. During play, offensive players are not allowed to remain in this area for more than three consecutive seconds.
Layup: A shot taken very close to the basket.
Low Help/Low split: Also known as the "captain" or "last". This is the bottom help side defender usually 2 passes away from the ball that is responsible for helping on the drive and denying the layup.
Low post: Generally considered the bottom third of the key. Players closest to the basket are said to be stationed "in the low post."
Man-to-man defense: A tactic in which each player is solely responsible for guarding one player from the opposing team.
Paint: Slang for the area also described as the lane. A player stationed in this area is said to be "in the paint."
Personal foul: A violation that stems from illegal contact with an opposing player. Can lead to a free throw for the opposing team if the foul occurs during the act of shooting or once a team surpasses the foul limit for a given quarter. In international basketball, players "foul out" of the game after accumulating five personal fouls.
Pick: Also known as a "screen," a pick is an offensive tactic in which one player becomes a stationary obstacle for a teammate to use to create space between himself or herself and a defender.
Pick-and-roll: An offensive tactic that involves one player picking the defender who is guarding the player with the ball. The player that sets the pick then "rolls" to the basket, sealing off the man he picked in hopes of receiving a pass.
Pidgeon Hole: A term used when a coach put players into specific positions and doesn't allow them to play other positions to develop their skills.
Pistol:
Point guard: The point guard is primarily responsible for bringing the ball up the floor on offense and distributing it to teammates. Typically, point guards are among the smallest and fastest players on the team and adept at ball handling and passing. The point guard can also be referred to as a "one guard."
Power forward: Like a center, a power forward typically is one of the tallest -- and often strongest -- players on the team. The power forward can also be referred to as a "four."
Receiver Spot: Receiver spots are a concept of where offensive players should move on a drive to the basket in order to catch the ball and be a threat in the offense.
Rebound: To gain control of a missed shot. Rebounds can also be referred to as just "boards."
Roll: When a player locates to the basket after setting a screen.
Shot clock: In international basketball, each team has 24 seconds to attempt a field goal. The shot clock displays the time remaining, and failure to shoot within 24 seconds results in loss of possession.
Shooting guard: Also known as an "off-guard" or "two guard," the shooting guard typically is a skilled offensive player and spends most of an offensive possession closer to the three-point line than the basket.
Show: When a screen defender steps out to slow the ball handler coming off of a screen.
Sixth man: The first substitute to enter the game is referred to as the sixth man, typically a team's best player who is not among the five starters.
Slot: Usually described as the are of the court that is lane line extended. or the 45.
Slot Cut:
Small forward: Often the most versatile player on the court, a good small forward is able to shoot, pass, defend and rebound. It can also be referred to as a "three."
Split: Two man off ball action. Generally one will screen for the other but can also be a fake screen. One will cut to the basket and one will cut to the ball, both are options to score.
Steal: To take the ball away from the offensive team, either off the dribble or by intercepting a pass.
Technical foul: The penalty for a violation of conduct such as fighting, abusive language or excessive delay of game. Technical fouls result in free throws for the other team and can also result in a change in possession to the other team.
Three-point play: When a player converts the free throw awarded after being fouled on a play in which he or she still scored a basket.
Three-point shot : A field goal attempt from behind a designated line. In international basketball, the line sits 22.1 feet from the basket at its furthest point. When made, the shot counts for three points. Slang terms include: long-range shot, triple, trey.
Trailer: The trailer is a designated player trailing the offense in transition, usually for the purpose of an easy ball reversal or screener.
Transition: When a team segues from defense to offense or vice versa.
Traveling: A violation that occurs when a player moves with the basketball without dribbling. The result is loss of possession.
Triple-double: Term for when a player reaches double digits in three stat categories in a single game, for example 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 10+ assists.
Turnover: Any play or violation that results in loss of possession.
Zipper Screen: When a guard receives a screen from the block up towards the top of the key area.
Zone defense: A tactic in which players are responsible for defending areas of the floor instead of individuals. Zone defenses are allowed in Olympic basketball.