22/09/2020 Basketball Vocabulary | Vocabulary | EnglishClub

Basketball Vocabulary List

assist James won the MVP award with 28 points, a pass to a teammate that leads directly to a goa
nine assists and eight rebounds.

backboard My shot came off the backboard and down a board behind the basket, off which the ball may
through the hoop for a 3-point goal. rebound

basket In the early days, peach baskets were nailed 1. a container used to hold or carry things
to the walls and used as goals. 2. a net fixed on a hoop used as the goal

block He stepped in front of our player to block his to stop the movement of an opponent, or stop an
run, and the referee ruled it a foul. opponent's pass or shot

bounce Players must bounce the ball on the floor as to rebound after hitting a surface
they run.

bounce The crowd cheered when Mario threw a a pass that bounces off the floor before it
pass perfect no-look bounce pass. reaches the receiver

chest pass Michael threw a quick chest pass, ran a two-handed pass thrown from chest height
forward, and received a bounce pass back.

double- Young players still learning the game often get violation of dribbling the ball with two hands, or
dribbling fouled for double-dribbling. stopping and restarting the dribble

draft Every team studies the players in the draft the annual process by which NBA teams select
and decides which ones they'll try to recruit. local or foreign players for their teams

dribble He dribbled past two defenders and then shot To bounce the ball repeatedly with one hand
for goal. while running or walking

drive Yao Ming is very difficult to stop when he A fast, strong dribble directly to the basket in an
drives to the basket. effort to score

exceed A team that exceeds the time-limit on the shot to go beyond what is allowed
clock loses possession of the ball.

foul Larry's already had four fouls, so if he a violation resulting from illegal contact with an
commits another one he'll be out of the game. opposing player

free throw Rodney practises his free throws for an hour a free shot taken from the free throw line as the
every day. result of a foul

game clock The coach called a time-out, and the game a scoreboard clock that shows the time
clock stopped while he talked to his players. remaining in each period of a game

guarding Guarding is a man-on-man defensive tactic following an opponent to stop him from driving,
used to counter dangerous players. shooting or passing easily

[Link] 3/5
22/09/2020 Basketball Vocabulary | Vocabulary | EnglishClub

word example sentence meaning

hoop The ball has to go through the hoop from the round metal rim from which a basketball net
above to score a goal. is suspended

jump shot A jump shot is much harder to block than a a shot taken while a player is jumping through
set shot. the air

lay up The best players spend a lot of time working a shot taken close to the basket that is usually
on skills to improve their lay ups. banked off the backboard and into the basket

MVP Michael was awarded MVP many times during 'most valuable player' award, given to the best
his career. player in a game

no-look Crowds love the no-look pass, but coaches a pass thrown without looking towards the
pass warn players not to use it just to show off. receiver

overhead An overhead pass can get the ball to a a pass thrown from over the head, to clear a
pass teammate who's behind some opponents. defender or for added power

overtime We won the game by outscoring our a five-minute extra period that is played when the
opponents in overtime. game is tied after four quarters

personal Younger players often get over-excited and a foul that involves illegal physical contact such
foul too aggressive and commit many personal as blocking, charging, elbowing or holding
fouls.

possession The team whose player commits a violation to be holding, or be in control of, the ball
loses possession of the ball.

rebound A lot of goals are scored from rebounds after get control of a ball that has come off the rim or
an opponent's shot misses. backboard after a failed shot attempt

referees How many referees are usually on court officials who call violations and fouls, give
during a game of basketball? penalties, signal field goals, and stop and start
play

set shot Practising set shots is important because they a shot taken with both feet on the floor in a set
are used to score from free throws. position

shoot Players earn more points if they shoot from to throw the ball in an attempt to score a goal
outside the three-point line.

shot clock Players have to keep an eye on the shot clock a clock that shows the amount of time a team
while they are playing. has left to take a shot

slam dunk Matt drove towards the basket, jumped high a high jump shot in which the ball is thrust down
into the air and scored with a huge slam dunk. through the hoop

substitute The substitutes sat on the bench and watched a player who comes into the game to replace a
as their teammates on the court kept playing. player on the court

[Link] 4/5
22/09/2020 Basketball Vocabulary | Vocabulary | EnglishClub

word example sentence meaning

technical Their coach got a technical foul for arguing a foul called against a player or coach for
foul with a referee. unsportsmanlike conduct such as arguing with a
referee

three-point In the NBA, the three-point line is 23 feet 9 a semi-circle painted on the court, from outside
line inches from the basket. of which a successful shot earns three points

time-out Their coach indicated that he wanted a time- clock stoppage requested by a coach for a short
out, and the referee stopped the game. meeting with the players

travelling Even professional players sometimes get the violation of moving with the ball without
penalized for travelling. dribbling correctly

turnover Good players protect the ball to stop a player loses the ball to a member of the other
opposition players from making a turnover. team without taking a shot

violation Two of the most common violations in junior an infraction of the rules
basketball are double-dribbling and travelling.

[Link] 5/5