For example, when a player makes a two-point shot and is fouled, they get to shoot a free throw to make it a 3-point play.If you are trading NFTs and want a completely free automated NFT scam prevention tool, make sure to check out Pocket Universe. And oneĪnd one is when a player is fouled by an opponent while making a basket and gets to shoot a free throw for an additional point. In 2014, LeBroning became a social media trend where people mimicked LeBron James' propensity to flop. Fans, players, and announcers often criticize players who flop, arguing that it ruins the flow and integrity of the game. The term comes from the photos of players dunking on opponents used in posters that fans hang on their walls.Ī flop is when a player exaggerates the contact an opponent makes on them and fakes a fall to get a foul call from the refs. If a player dunks on another player dramatically and awesomely, they posterize them. For example, an announcer may say, 'Steph Curry is putting on a shooting clinic tonight,' after Curry makes five 3-pointers in a row. Players are putting on a clinic when they do something really well, like shooting or defending. The player receiving the pass may lay it in, but they usually dunk it. Alley oopĪn alley pop is an exciting play in basketball where a player passes the ball to a teammate, who then puts it in the basket in mid-air. The phrase comes from the clumsiness beginners often feel when ice skating or roller skating for the first time. When a player dribbling the ball makes quick movements, causing the defender to stumble over himself, he puts him on skates. So, if a player records 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game, they achieve a triple-double. Triple-double is similar to a double-double but is when a basketball player achieves double digits in three categories instead of two in a single game. So, if a player records 14 points and 11 rebounds in a game, they achieve a double-double. Possible categories include points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. Double-doubleĪ double-double is a statistical term for a basketball player achieving double digits in two categories in a single game. The term comes from the backboard of a hoop. Players may collect defensive boards (when an opponent misses a shot) or offensive boards (when a teammate misses a shot). In this context, the Good Samaritan helps you (or assists you) by dropping you a dime. Many believe the term comes from the olden days when a kind person gave you a dime to make a call on a public phone when you had no money. Dropping dimesĭropping dimes is when a player makes passes to teammates who then score points (recorded as assists). People may also remark that you've 'gone cold.' 11. The opposite of on fire is ice cold, which is when you shoot terribly. People may also remark that you are 'heating up' or that you have the 'hot hand.' Or, they might just yell, 'heat check!'

In basketball, being on fire is good (unlike most other times) because it means you are shooting well and scoring a lot of points. Some believe that the term dates back to the early years of the sport in the 1890s when basketball creator James Naismith and other players used peach baskets, or buckets, for the rim and net.

BucketĪ bucket is a made 2-point or 3-point shot. It may be an attempted or made shot from beyond the 3-point line. Trey is a common term for a 3-point shot. Announcers and fans often say, 'From way downtown!' when a player chucks up a deep 3-point shot. Downtownĭowntown is the area beyond the 3-point line, far from the hoop. It gained prominence among basketball fans when the Warriors nicknamed the sharp-shooting duo Steph Curry and Klay Thompson the 'Splash Brothers' in 2012. Splash is similar to swish, but most people associate it with made 3-pointers. The name comes from the net's sound when the ball quickly passes through.

Swish is a classic basketball term that refers to a near-perfect shot where the ball only touches the net, not any of the rim. However, instead of only hitting air, a brick squarely clangs off the rim (or backboard), typically because it is a shot on a flat trajectory and has no chance of going in the basket. Like air ball, brick is another term for an ugly missed shot. Opposing fans might chant 'Air ball!' before a player shoots a free throw or after a player takes a shot and misses the hoop entirely. Air ballĪn air ball is a missed shot that doesn't touch the rim or the backboard. It is one of the most common basketball terms and may be a shot for two points or three points (if it is beyond the 3-point line). Jumper is short for jump shot, which is when a player jumps in the air to shoot the ball. Here are 20 slang terms to know that will get you ballin in no time. As basketball has evolved over the years, so has its language.

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