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Players per team on court 5 sports-basketball-rules-terms
Point guard The ball handler who runs the offense sports-basketball-rules-terms
Shooting guard A guard who scores, especially from outside sports-basketball-rules-terms
Small forward A versatile player who scores and defends sports-basketball-rules-terms
Power forward A strong player who plays near the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Center The tallest player, who plays near the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Field goal A shot made during play sports-basketball-rules-terms
Free throw An uncontested shot from the foul line, worth 1 point sports-basketball-rules-terms
Two-pointer A basket made inside the three-point line sports-basketball-rules-terms
Three-pointer A basket made from behind the three-point line sports-basketball-rules-terms
Layup A shot made close to the basket off the backboard or rim sports-basketball-rules-terms
Dunk Putting the ball directly through the hoop from above sports-basketball-rules-terms
Jump shot A shot taken while jumping sports-basketball-rules-terms
Hook shot A shot made with a sweeping arm motion over the head sports-basketball-rules-terms
Bank shot A shot that bounces off the backboard into the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Alley-oop A pass thrown near the rim for a teammate to catch and score sports-basketball-rules-terms
Rebound Getting the ball after a missed shot sports-basketball-rules-terms
Offensive rebound A rebound taken by the team that shot sports-basketball-rules-terms
Defensive rebound A rebound taken by the defending team sports-basketball-rules-terms
Assist A pass that leads straight to a score sports-basketball-rules-terms
Steal Taking the ball from an opponent sports-basketball-rules-terms
Block Stopping a shot by hitting the ball sports-basketball-rules-terms
Turnover Losing the ball to the other team without a shot sports-basketball-rules-terms
Double-dribble Dribbling with two hands or stopping and starting again sports-basketball-rules-terms
Traveling Taking too many steps without dribbling sports-basketball-rules-terms
Carrying (palming) Turning the hand under the ball while dribbling sports-basketball-rules-terms
Three-second violation An offensive player stays in the lane for over three seconds sports-basketball-rules-terms
Five-second violation Holding the ball closely guarded without moving it for five seconds sports-basketball-rules-terms
Shot clock violation The team fails to shoot within the shot clock time sports-basketball-rules-terms
Backcourt violation Taking the ball back over the midcourt line after crossing it sports-basketball-rules-terms
Out of bounds Outside the court lines sports-basketball-rules-terms
Foul An illegal contact with an opponent sports-basketball-rules-terms
Personal foul A foul for illegal contact sports-basketball-rules-terms
Technical foul A foul for bad conduct, not for contact sports-basketball-rules-terms
Flagrant foul A hard, unnecessary foul sports-basketball-rules-terms
Charging An offensive player runs into a set defender sports-basketball-rules-terms
Blocking foul A defender moves into a player's path illegally sports-basketball-rules-terms
Fouling out Being removed after too many fouls (6 in the NBA, 5 in many other leagues) sports-basketball-rules-terms
Bonus (one-and-one) Free throws awarded after a team has too many fouls sports-basketball-rules-terms
Jump ball A toss between two players to start or decide possession sports-basketball-rules-terms
Tip-off The jump ball that begins the game sports-basketball-rules-terms
Timeout A short stop to rest or plan sports-basketball-rules-terms
Overtime Extra time when the score is tied sports-basketball-rules-terms
Quarter length (NBA) 12 minutes sports-basketball-rules-terms
Half length (college men) 20 minutes sports-basketball-rules-terms
Shot clock (NBA) 24 seconds sports-basketball-rules-terms
Rim height 10 feet above the floor sports-basketball-rules-terms
Free throw line distance 15 feet from the backboard sports-basketball-rules-terms
Backboard The board behind the hoop sports-basketball-rules-terms
Key (lane) The painted area under the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Paint The painted lane area sports-basketball-rules-terms
Perimeter Area away from the basket, outside the key sports-basketball-rules-terms
Post The area near the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Fast break A quick attack before the defense sets sports-basketball-rules-terms
Pick and roll A screen set for the ball handler, then a roll to the basket sports-basketball-rules-terms
Screen (pick) A player blocks a defender to free a teammate sports-basketball-rules-terms
Man-to-man defense Each defender guards a specific opponent sports-basketball-rules-terms
Zone defense Defenders guard areas of the court sports-basketball-rules-terms
Full-court press Defense that pressures the ball over the whole court sports-basketball-rules-terms
Dribble Bouncing the ball while moving sports-basketball-rules-terms
Crossover A quick change of dribbling hand to fool a defender sports-basketball-rules-terms
Pivot Turning on one foot while keeping the other planted sports-basketball-rules-terms
Double-double Double-digit totals in two stats, like points and rebounds sports-basketball-rules-terms
Triple-double Double-digit totals in three stats sports-basketball-rules-terms
James Naismith Invented basketball in 1891 in Massachusetts sports-basketball-rules-terms
NBA National Basketball Association, founded 1946 sports-basketball-rules-terms
WNBA Women's National Basketball Association, began in 1997 sports-basketball-rules-terms
March Madness The NCAA college basketball tournament sports-basketball-rules-terms
Michael Jordan Hall of Famer who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls sports-basketball-rules-terms
Sue Bird Hall of Fame point guard who won four Olympic gold medals sports-basketball-rules-terms