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{{about|the sport|the ball used in the sport|Basketball (ball)|other uses}}{{pp-semi-indef}}{{pp-move-indef}}{{short description|Team sport}}{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2011}}{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately {{convert|9.4|in|cm}} in diameter) through the defender's hoop (a basket {{convert|18|in|cm}} in diameter mounted {{convert|10|ft|m|sigfig=4}} high to a backboard at each end of the court) while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one or more one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime) is mandated.Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players may use a variety of shotsâ€”the lay-up, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces from rim or backboard. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling.The five players on each side at a time fall into five playing positions: the tallest player is usually the center, the tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly shorter but more agile big man is the small forward, and the shortest players or the best ball handlers are the shooting guard and the point guard, who implements the coach's game plan by managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning). Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one.Invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, basketball has evolved to become one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.NEWS,weblink The Canadian who invented basketball, September 14, 2011, September 20, 2010, BBC News, Sian, Griffiths, The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.MAGAZINE,, The Surge of the NBA's International Viewership and Popularity,weblink June 14, 2012, June 14, 2012, WEB,, REVEALED: The world's best paid teams, Man City close in on Barca and Real Madrid,weblink May 1, 2012, June 11, 2012, Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the Euroleague and FIBA Americas League. The FIBA Basketball World Cup and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are the major international events of the sport and attract top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for national teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup.The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament feature top national teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA (NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also popular), whereas strongest European clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.



File:James Naismith at Springfield College circa 1920.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the sport of basketball ]]File:Firstbasketball.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The first basketball court: Springfield CollegeSpringfield CollegeIn early December 1891, Canadian James Naismith,NEWS,weblink The Greatest Canadian Invention, CBC News, dead,weblink" title="">weblink December 3, 2010, a physical education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training SchoolWEB,weblink YMCA International - World Alliance of YMCAs: Basketball : a YMCA Invention,, March 22, 2016,weblink" title="">weblink March 14, 2016, dead, mdy-all, (YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=on}} elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed, allowing the balls to be poked out with a long dowel each time.(File:Basketball historic.tif|thumb|upright|Old style basketball with laces)Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. These round balls from "association football" were made, at the time, with a set of laces to close off the hole needed for inserting the inflatable bladder after the other sewn-together segments of the ball's cover had been flipped outside-in.Leather Head Naismith Style Lace Up Basketball (The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2016)WEB,weblink Passion Drives Creation - JeepÂ® & USA Basketball, Jeep, July 16, 2012, YouTube, These laces could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable.Inflatable ball, Inventor: Frank Dieterle, Patent: US 1660378 A (1928) The description in this patent explains problems caused by lacing on the cover of basketballs. Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith. (Whereas in American football, the lace construction proved to be advantageous for gripping and remains to this day.) The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls.{{dubious|date=January 2019}} Dribbling was common by 1896, with a rule against the double dribble by 1898.BOOK, Naismith, James, Basketball : its origin and development, 1941, Association Press, New York, The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed through. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most points won the game.WEB,weblink February 14, 2007, February 14, 2007, James Naismith Biography,weblink" title="">weblink February 5, 2007, dead, mdy, The baskets were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators in the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots.Thinkquest, weblink" title="">Basketball. Retrieved January 20, 2009. Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's game called duck on a rock, as many had failed before it.Frank Mahan, one of the players from the original first game, approached Naismith after the Christmas break, in early 1892, asking him what he intended to call his new game. Naismith replied that he hadn't thought of it because he had been focused on just getting the game started. Mahan suggested that it be called "Naismith ball", at which he laughed, saying that a name like that would kill any game. Mahan then said, "Why not call it basketball?" Naismith replied, "We have a basket and a ball, and it seems to me that would be a good name for it."WEB,weblink Error 404 -, June 26, 2010, dead,weblink" title="">weblink June 26, 2010, mdy-all, NEWS,weblink Newly found documents shed light on basketball's birth, January 11, 2007, November 13, 2006, Associated Press, ESPN, dead,weblink" title="">weblink December 1, 2007, mdy-all, The first official game was played in the YMCA gymnasium in Albany, New York, on January 20, 1892, with nine players. The game ended at 1â€“0; the shot was made from {{convert|25|ft|m}}, on a court just half the size of a present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court.At the time, football was being played with 10 to a team (which was increased to 11). When winter weather got too icy to play football, teams were taken indoors, and it was convenient to have them split in half and play basketball with five on each side. By 1897â€“1898 teams of five became standard.

College basketball

{{see also|College basketball}}(File:Kansas U team 1899.jpg|thumb|The 1899 University of Kansas basketball team, with James Naismith at the back, right.)Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the United States and Canada. By 1895, it was well established at several women's high schools. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game. The first pro league, the National Basketball League, was formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less rough game. This league only lasted five years.James Naismith was instrumental in establishing college basketball. His colleague C.O. Beamis fielded the first college basketball team just a year after the Springfield YMCA game at the suburban Pittsburgh Geneva College.NEWS,weblink Grandson of basketball's inventor brings game's exhibit to Geneva College, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,, April 15, 2010, June 3, 2011, Fuoco, Linda, Naismith himself later coached at the University of Kansas for six years, before handing the reins to renowned coach Forrest "Phog" Allen. Naismith's disciple Amos Alonzo Stagg brought basketball to the University of Chicago, while Adolph Rupp, a student of Naismith's at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at the University of Kentucky. On February 9, 1895, the first intercollegiate 5-on-5 game was played at Hamline University between Hamline and the School of Agriculture, which was affiliated with the University of Minnesota.WEB,weblink Hamline University Athletics: Hutton Arena,, January 4, 1937, July 25, 2010, dead,weblink" title="">weblink May 28, 2010, WEB,weblink 1st Ever Public Basketball Game Played...,, WEB,weblink 1st Ever Public Basketball Game Played, March 12, 1892, Rare & Early Newspapers, March 22, 2016, The School of Agriculture won in a 9â€“3 game.In 1901, colleges, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Colorado and Yale University began sponsoring men's games. In 1905, frequent injuries on the football field prompted President Theodore Roosevelt to suggest that colleges form a governing body, resulting in the creation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS). In 1910, that body would change its name to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The first Canadian interuniversity basketball game was played at the YMCA in Kingston, Ontario on February 6, 1904, when McGill Universityâ€”Naismith's alma materâ€”visited Queen's University. McGill won 9â€“7 in overtime; the score was 7â€“7 at the end of regulation play, and a ten-minute overtime period settled the outcome. A good turnout of spectators watched the game.Queen's Journal, vol. 31, no. 7, February 16, 1904; 105 years of Canadian university basketball, by Earl Zukerman, WEB,weblinkweblink" title="">weblink dead, October 1, 2018, broken link, February 6, 2009, The first men's national championship tournament, the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball tournament, which still exists as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament, was organized in 1937. The first national championship for NCAA teams, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938; the NCAA national tournament would begin one year later. College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players from top teams were implicated in match fixing and point shaving. Partially spurred by an association with cheating, the NIT lost support to the NCAA tournament.

High school basketball

{{see also|List of U.S. high school basketball national player of the year awards}}File:Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Heart Mountain, Wyoming. A hotly contested interscholastic basket . . . - NARA - 539726.jpg|thumb|upright|A basketball game between the Heart Mountain and Powell High School girls teams, Wyoming, March 1944]]Before widespread school district consolidation, most American high schools were far smaller than their present-day counterparts. During the first decades of the 20th century, basketball quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel requirements. In the days before widespread television coverage of professional and college sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America. Perhaps the most legendary of high school teams was Indiana's Franklin Wonder Five, which took the nation by storm during the 1920s, dominating Indiana basketball and earning national recognition.Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team in varsity competition.weblink" title="">2008â€“09 High School Athletics Participation Survey NFHS. Basketball's popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry the identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after graduation. In the 2016â€“17 season, 980,673 boys and girls represented their schools in interscholastic basketball competition, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.WEB,weblink 2016â€“17 High School Athletics Participation Survey, National Federation of State High School Associations, February 16, 2018, The states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky are particularly well known for their residents' devotion to high school basketball, commonly called Hoosier Hysteria in Indiana; the critically acclaimed film Hoosiers shows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these communities.There is currently no tournament to determine a national high school champion. The most serious effort was the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament at the University of Chicago from 1917 to 1930. The event was organized by Amos Alonzo Stagg and sent invitations to state champion teams. The tournament started out as a mostly Midwest affair but grew. In 1929 it had 29 state champions. Faced with opposition from the National Federation of State High School Associations and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that bore a threat of the schools losing their accreditation the last tournament was in 1930. The organizations said they were concerned that the tournament was being used to recruit professional players from the prep ranks.WEB,weblink National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament â€“ â€“ Retrieved September 13, 2009,, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 10, 2010, live, mdy, The tournament did not invite minority schools or private/parochial schools.The National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament ran from 1924 to 1941 at Loyola University.WEB,weblink National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament, 1924â€“1941 â€“ â€“ Retrieved September 13, 2009,, December 7, 1941, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 10, 2010, live, mdy, The National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament from 1954 to 1978 played at a series of venues, including Catholic University, Georgetown and George Mason.WEB,weblink National Catholic Invitations Basketball Tournament â€“ â€“ Retrieved September 13, 2009,, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 10, 2010, live, mdy, The National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools was held from 1929 to 1942 at Hampton Institute.WEB,weblink â€“ National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools, 1929â€“1942 â€“ Retrieved September 13, 2009,, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 10, 2010, live, mdy, The National Invitational Interscholastic Basketball Tournament was held from 1941 to 1967 starting out at Tuskegee Institute. Following a pause during World War II it resumed at Tennessee State College in Nashville. The basis for the champion dwindled after 1954 when Brown v. Board of Education began an integration of schools. The last tournaments were held at Alabama State College from 1964 to 1967.WEB,weblink National Invitational Interscholastic Basketball Tournament â€“ â€“ Retrieved September 13, 2009,, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 10, 2010, live, mdy,

Professional basketball


International basketball

File:Basketball World Cup 2014.jpg|thumb|The U.S. playing against Mexico at the 2014 FIBA World Cup2014 FIBA World CupFIBA (International Basketball Federation) was formed in 1932 by eight founding nations: Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland. At this time, the organization only oversaw amateur players. Its acronym, derived from the French FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de Basket-ball Amateur, was thus "FIBA". Men's basketball was first included at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics, although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904. The United States defeated Canada in the first final, played outdoors. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team has won all but three titles. The first of these came in a controversial final game in Munich in 1972 against the Soviet Union, in which the ending of the game was replayed three times until the Soviet Union finally came out on top.NEWS, Golden, Daniel, Three Seconds at 1972 Olympics Haunt U.S. Basketball,weblink Bloomberg Business Week, 18 November 2014, 23 July 2012, In 1950 the first FIBA World Championship for men, now known as the FIBA Basketball World Cup, was held in Argentina. Three years later, the first FIBA World Championship for women, now known as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, was held in Chile. Women's basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, which were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with teams such as the Soviet Union, Brazil and Australia rivaling the American squads.In 1989, FIBA allowed professional NBA players to participate in the Olympics for the first time. Prior to the 1992 Summer Olympics, only European and South American teams were allowed to field professionals in the Olympics. The United States' dominance continued with the introduction of the original Dream Team. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling to Puerto Rico (in a 19-point loss) and Lithuania in group games, and being eliminated in the semifinals by Argentina. It eventually won the bronze medal defeating Lithuania, finishing behind Argentina and Italy. The Redeem Team, won gold at the 2008 Olympics, and the B-Team, won gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey despite featuring no players from the 2008 squad. The United States continued its dominance as they won gold at the 2012 Olympics, 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.File:ÐœÐ°Ñ‚Ñ‡ Ð¦Ð¡ÐšÐ â€“ Ð ÐµÐ°Ð» ÐœÐ°Ð´Ñ€Ð¸Ð´ Ð² Ð”Ð¡ Â«ÐœÐµÐ³Ð°ÑÐ¿Ð¾Ñ€Ñ‚Â» 1 Ñ„ÐµÐ²Ñ€Ð°Ð»Ñ 2018 Ð³Ð¾Ð´Ð° Â· 2.jpg|thumb|A EuroLeague game in Moscow in 2018]]Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels. The global popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Players from all six inhabited continents currently play in the NBA. Top international players began coming into the NBA in the mid-1990s, including Croatians DraÅ¾en PetroviÄ‡ and Toni KukoÄ, Serbian Vlade Divac, Lithuanians Arvydas Sabonis and Å arÅ«nas MarÄiulionis, Dutchman Rik Smits and German Detlef Schrempf.In the Philippines, the Philippine Basketball Association's first game was played on April 9, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Philippines. It was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, which was tightly controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (now defunct), the then-FIBA recognized national association. Nine teams from the MICAA participated in the league's first season that opened on April 9, 1975. The NBL is Australia's pre-eminent men's professional basketball league. The league commenced in 1979, playing a winter season (Aprilâ€“September) and did so until the completion of the 20th season in 1998. The 1998â€“99 season, which commenced only months later, was the first season after the shift to the current summer season format (Octoberâ€“April). This shift was an attempt to avoid competing directly against Australia's various football codes. It features 8 teams from around Australia and one in New Zealand. A few players including Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Chris Anstey and Andrew Bogut made it big internationally, becoming poster figures for the sport in Australia. The Women's National Basketball League began in 1981.

Women's basketball

{{see also|Women's basketball}}File:2006 World Championship for Women Australia.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|The Australian women's basketball team on winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship2006 FIBA World ChampionshipWomen's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith, she went to Naismith to learn more about the game.WEB,weblink Pioneers in Physical Education, 661â€“662, June 3, 2009,weblink" title="">weblink June 20, 2009, dead, mdy-all, Fascinated by the new sport and the values it could teach, she organized the first women's collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her Smith freshmen and sophomores played against one another.WEB,weblink Senda Berenson Papers, June 3, 2009,weblink" title="">weblink February 3, 2016, dead, mdy-all, However, the first women's interinstitutional game was played in 1892 between the University of California and Miss Head's School.WEB, Jenkins, Sally, History of Women's Basketball,weblink, January 21, 2014, dead,weblink" title="">weblink January 6, 2013, mdy-all, Berenson's rules were first published in 1899, and two years later she became the editor of A. G. Spalding's first Women's Basketball Guide. Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's intercollegiate basketball game at Smith College, March 21, 1893.WEB,weblink You Come in as a Squirrel and Leave as an Owl, June 3, 2011, Peacock-Broyles, Trinity,,weblink" title="">weblink June 15, 2011, live, mdy, The same year, Mount Holyoke and Sophie Newcomb College (coached by Clara Gregory Baer) women began playing basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country, including Wellesley, Vassar, and Bryn Mawr. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896. Stanford women played Berkeley, 9-on-9, ending in a 2â€“1 Stanford victory.Women's basketball development was more structured than that for men in the early years. In 1905, the Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee) was created by the American Physical Education Association.WEB,weblink Historical Timeline, June 2, 2009,weblink" title="">weblink June 21, 2009, dead, mdy-all, These rules called for six to nine players per team and 11 officials. The International Women's Sports Federation (1924) included a women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state tournaments were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the first national women's basketball championship, complete with men's rules. The Edmonton Grads, a touring Canadian women's team based in Edmonton, Alberta, operated between 1915 and 1940. The Grads toured all over North America, and were exceptionally successful. They posted a record of 522 wins and only 20 losses over that span, as they met any team that wanted to challenge them, funding their tours from gate receipts.WEB,weblink The Great Teams, June 2, 2009, dead,weblink" title="">weblink August 12, 2010, mdy, The Grads also shone on several exhibition trips to Europe, and won four consecutive exhibition Olympics tournaments, in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936; however, women's basketball was not an official Olympic sport until 1976. The Grads' players were unpaid, and had to remain single. The Grads' style focused on team play, without overly emphasizing skills of individual players. The first women's AAU All-America team was chosen in 1929. Women's industrial leagues sprang up throughout the United States, producing famous athletes, including Babe Didrikson of the Golden Cyclones, and the All American Red Heads Team, which competed against men's teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-court game to two-court game with six players per team.File:Brittney Griner accepting Wade Trophy 2.jpg|thumb|left|Brittney GrinerBrittney GrinerThe NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) began in 1997. Though it had shaky attendance figures, several marquee players (Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker among others) have helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Other professional women's basketball leagues in the United States, such as the American Basketball League (1996â€“98), have folded in part because of the popularity of the WNBA. The WNBA has been looked at by many as a niche league. However, the league has recently taken steps forward. In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN. The new television deal ran from 2009 to 2016. Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" were "dispersed to the league's teams." In a March 12, 2009 article, NBA commissioner David Stern said that in the bad economy, "the NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing a lot of money among a large number of teams. We're budgeting the WNBA to break even this year."Television New Zealand, BASKETBALL | NBA getting through tough times {{webarchive |url= |date=March 18, 2015 }}

Rules and regulations

(File:Canasta y tablero - 0.00.jpg|thumb|upright|End of a match as the shot clock shows no time left)(File:Basketball terms.png|thumb|300px|Most important terms related to the basketball court)Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section.The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc {{convert|6.75|m|ftin}} from the basket in international games{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}} and {{convert|23|ft|9|in|m}} in NBA games.WEB,weblink Official Rules of the National Basketball Association 2013-2014, 8â€“9,weblink November 12, 2018, dead, A one-point shot can be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is made.

Playing regulations

Games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA)FIBA Official Basketball Rules (2010) Rule 4, Section 8.1 Retrieved July 26, 2010 or 12 minutes (NBA).NBA Official Rules (2009â€“2010) Rule 5, Section II, a. Retrieved July 26, 2010. College men's games use two 20-minute halves,2009â€“2011 Men's & Women's Basketball Rules Rule 5, Section 6, Article 1. Retrieved July 26, 2010. college women's games use 10-minute quarters,NEWS,weblink NCAA panel approves women's basketball rules changes, Associated Press,, June 8, 2015, June 9, 2015, and most United States high school varsity games use 8-minute quarters; however, this varies from state to state.BOOK, Mary, Struckhoff, 2009â€“2010 NFHS Basketball Rules, 2009, National Federation of State High School Associations, National Federation of High Schools, Indianapolis, Indiana, 41, Rule 5, Section 5, Article 1NEWS, Stewart, Mark, Varsity basketball games will have two 18-minute halves next season,weblink July 11, 2018, Journal Sentinel, June 25, 2015, 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rulesNBA Official Rules (2009â€“2010) Rule 5, Section II, c. Retrieved July 26, 2010.FIBA Official Basketball Rules (2010) Rule 4, Section 8.4 Retrieved July 26, 2010 and 10 minutes in United States high schools. Overtime periods are five minutes in lengthNBA Official Rules (2009â€“2010) Rule 5, Section II, b. Retrieved July 26, 2010.FIBA Official Basketball Rules (2010) Rule 4, Section 8.7 Retrieved July 26, 2010 except for high school, which is four minutes in length. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.FIBA Official Basketball Rules (2010) Rule 3, Section 4.2.2 Retrieved July 26, 2010NBA Official Rules (2009â€“2010) Rule 3, Section I, a. Retrieved July 26, 2010.2009â€“2011 Men's & Women's Basketball Rules Rule 10, Section 2, Article 6. Retrieved July 26, 2010.BOOK, Mary, Struckhoff, 2009â€“2010 NFHS Basketball Rules, 2009, National Federation of State High School Associations, National Federation of High Schools, Indianapolis, Indiana, 59, Rule 10, Section 1, Article 6 Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers.For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes mandated in the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For college, the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three referees on the court. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.


File:Basketball.png|thumb|upright|Traditional eight-panel basketball ]]The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the ball and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems.(File:Basketball Goal.jpg|thumb|An outdoor basketball net)A regulation basketball court in international games is {{convert|91.9|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long and 49.2 feet (15 meters) wide. In the NBA and NCAA the court is {{convert|94|by|50|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Most courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks running in the same direction as the longer court dimension.WEB,weblink What Are the Different Types of Basketball Court Surfaces?, William, Lynch, WEB,weblink What Are the Different Types of Basketball Court Surfaces?, February 7, 2014, LIVESTRONG, March 22, 2016, The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or around the center circle.{{anchor|rim}}The basket is a steel rim {{convert|18|in|cm}} diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that measures {{convert|6|by|3.5|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} and one basket is at each end of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is {{convert|18|in|cm}} high and {{convert|2|ft|cm}} wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly {{convert|10|ft|m|2|abbr=off|sp=us}} above the court and {{convert|4|ft|m|2|abbr=off|sp=us}} inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height â€“ a rim that is off by just a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is {{convert|29.5|in|cm}} in circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 oz (623.69 grams). If women are playing, the official basketball size is {{convert|28.5|in|cm}} in circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a weight of 20 oz (567 grams). In 3x3, a formalized version of the halfcourt 3-on-3 game, a dedicated ball with the circumference of a size 6 ball but the weight of a size 7 ball is used in all competitions (men's, women's, and mixed teams).PRESS RELEASE,weblink Wilson to provide the Official Game Ball for FIBA, Amer Sports, June 9, 2015, August 17, 2015,




(File:Basketball foul.jpg|thumb|upright|The referee signals that a foul has been committed)An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through certain types of physical contact is illegal and is called a personal foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line {{convert|15|ft|m}} from the basket.The referee is responsible for judging whether contact is illegal, sometimes resulting in controversy. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and referees.There is a second category of fouls called technical fouls, which may be charged for various rules violations including failure to properly record a player in the scorebook, or for unsportsmanlike conduct. These infractions result in one or two free throws, which may be taken by any of the five players on the court at the time. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. A blatant foul involving physical contact that is either excessive or unnecessary is called an intentional foul (flagrant foul in the NBA). In FIBA and NCAA women's basketball, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul, while in leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) â€“ four for NBA, NCAA women's, and international games â€“ the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US college men's game and high school games for both sexes, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded one free throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-one". If a team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all subsequent fouls for the half.When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, the other team is said to be "in the bonus". On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an illuminated directional arrow or dot indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing play.If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot thus receives two shots, and a player fouled while attempting a three-point shot receives three shots.If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of the basket made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).

Common techniques and practices


(File:Basketball positions.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|Basketball positions in the offensive zone)Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball. During the early years of basketball's evolution, two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. In more recent times specific positions evolved, but the current trend, advocated by many top coaches including Mike Krzyzewski is towards positionless basketball, where big guys are free to shoot from outside and dribble if their skill allows it.WEB, Marshall, John, Positionless basketball taking hold in college,weblink 18 November 2014, 1 November 2014, Popular descriptions of positions include:Point guard (often called the "1") : usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time.Shooting guard (the "2") : creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-ranged; and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.Small forward (the "3") : often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively.Power forward (the "4"): plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense).Center (the "5"): uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on defense), or to rebound.The above descriptions are flexible. For most teams today, the shooting guard and small forward have very similar responsibilities and are often called the wings, as do the power forward and center, who are often called post players. While most teams describe two players as guards, two as forwards, and one as a center, on some occasions teams choose to call them by different designations.




(File:Basketball shot.jpg|thumb|upright|Player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked down, or trying to "take a charge")Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket, methods varying with players and situations.Typically, a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will rest the ball on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is usually shot by jumping (though not always) and extending the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully bent, is held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat controversial, but generally a proper arc is recommended. Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket.(File:Basketball through hoop.jpg|thumb|left|Basketball falling through hoop)The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and the jump shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for free throws, and in other circumstances while the jump shot is taken in mid-air, the ball released near the top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the floor is considered a traveling violation.Another common shot is called the lay-up. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward, through the basket while touching it.(File:Dunk.gif|thumb|Slow-motion animation of a dunk)Another shot that is becoming common{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} is the "circus shot". The circus shot is a low-percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket. A back-shot is a shot taken when the player is facing away from the basket, and may be shot with the dominant hand, or both; but there is a very low chance that the shot will be successful.A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air ball. A particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called a brick. The hang time is the length of time a player stays in the air after jumping, either to make a slam dunk, lay-up or jump shot.




{{See also|Assist (basketball)}}A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the defence little time to react.Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the passer's head.The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is the outlet pass.The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called a no-look pass.Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass, which, as the description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.


(File:Basketball-Basic Types of Dribbling.webm|thumb|right|upright=1.45|A demonstration of the basic types of dribbling in basketball)(File:Basketball game.jpg|thumb|upright|A U.S. Naval Academy ("Navy") player, left, posts up a U.S. Military Academy ("Army") defender.)Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand and is a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater control.When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs, and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the most effective way to move past defenders while dribbling.A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of having someone steal the ball away from him/her.




At the professional level, most male players are above {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|2}} and most women above {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m|2}}. Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the top men's pro leagues are {{convert|6|ft|6|in|m|2}} or taller. Most centers are over {{convert|6|ft|10|in|m|2}} tall. According to a survey given to all NBA teams,{{when|date=July 2015}} the average height of all NBA players is just under {{convert|6|ft|7|in|m|2}}, with the average weight being close to {{convert|222|lb|kg}}. The tallest players ever in the NBA were Manute Bol and Gheorghe MureÈ™an, who were both {{convert|7|ft|7|in|m|2}} tall. At {{convert|7|ft|2|in|m|2}}, Margo Dydek was the tallest player in the history of the WNBA.The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at {{convert|5|ft|3|in|m|2}}.WEB,weblink Muggsy Bogues Bio,, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink July 17, 2010, dead, mdy, Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m}} tall, but had a {{convert|42|in|m|adj=on}} vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. While shorter players are often at a disadvantage in certain aspects of the game, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.Players regularly inflate their height. Many prospects exaggerate their height while in high school or college to make themselves more appealing to coaches and scouts, who prefer taller players. Charles Barkley stated; "I've been measured at 6-5, 6-4 {{frac|3|4}}. But I started in college at 6-6." Sam Smith, a former writer from The Chicago Tribune, said: "We sort of know the heights, because after camp, the sheet comes out. But you use that height, and the player gets mad. And then you hear from his agent. Or you file your story with the right height, and the copy desk changes it because they have the 'official' N.B.A. media guide, which is wrong. So you sort of go along with the joke."NEWS, Noah Liberman, When Height Becomes a Tall Tale, The New York Times, June 22, 2008,weblink February 1, 2019, In the NBA, there is no standard on whether a player's listed height uses their measurement with shoes on or without. The NBA Draft Combine, which most players attend before the draft, provides both measurements. Thereafter, a player's team is solely responsible for their listed height, which can vary depending on the process selected.NEWS, Sherwood Strauss, Ethan, Kevin Love and height liars in shoes, December 29, 2011,,weblinkweblink" title="">weblink February 11, 2015, live, NEWS, Goffinet, Larry, Shoes shouldn't count in measuring height, January 25, 2015, Perry County News,weblink't-count-measuring-height,weblink" title="">weblink February 8, 2018, dead, mdy-all, September 1, 2018, Notable players who overstated their height include:
  • Kobe Bryant whose listed height is {{convert|6|ft|6|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m|2}weblink
  • Charles Barkley whose listed height is {{convert|6|ft|6|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is just under {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m|2}}
  • Kevin Love whose listed height is {{convert|6|ft|10|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is just under {{convert|6|ft|8|in|m|2}weblink
  • Jason Collins whose listed height is {{convert|7|ft|0|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is {{convert|6|ft|8|in|m|2}weblink
  • Dwight Howard whose listed height is {{convert|6|ft|11|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}weblink
On rare occasions, some players will understate their actual heights, not to be repositioned. One example is Kevin Durant, whose listed height is {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}}, while his actual height is {{convert|7|ft|0|in|m|2}}. Durant's reasoning was, "Really, that's the prototypical size for a small forward. Anything taller than that, and they'll start saying, 'Ah, he's a power forward."

Variations and similar games

File:Girls play basketball in Dharmsala, India.jpg|thumb|right|Schoolgirls shooting hoops among the Himalayas in Dharamsala, India.]]File:SÃ¢n trÆ°á»ng THPT Phan ÄÃ¬nh PhÃ¹ng, HÃ  Ná»™i.JPG|thumb|right|A basketball training course at the Phan ÄÃ¬nh PhÃ¹ng High School, HanoiHanoiVariations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players reinforce skills.There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball including Wheelchair basketball, Water basketball, Beach basketball, Slamball, Streetball and Unicycle basketball. An earlier version of basketball, played primarily by women and girls, was Six-on-six basketball. Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored by shooting it through a high net (approximately 1.5mÃ—1.5m). The sport is like a combination of polo, rugby, and basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known as Donkey basketball, but that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.File:MECVOLLEYBALL GROUND.JPG|right|thumb|A basketball court in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu


Perhaps the single most common variation of basketball is the half-court game, played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Only one basket is used, and the ball must be "taken back" or "cleared" â€“ passed or dribbled outside the three-point line each time possession of the ball changes from one team to the other. Half-court games require less cardiovascular stamina, since players need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court raises the number of players that can use a court or, conversely, can be played if there is an insufficient number to form full 5-on-5 teams.Half-court basketball is usually played 1-on-1, 2-on-2 or 3-on-3. The latter variation is gradually gaining official recognition as 3x3, originally known as FIBA 33. It was first tested at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games in Macau and the first official tournaments were held at the 2009 Asian Youth Games and the 2010 Youth Olympics, both in Singapore. The first FIBA 3x3 Youth World ChampionshipsWEB,weblink 2011 3x3 Youth World Championship | FIBA.COM,, September 11, 2011, November 22, 2012, dead,weblink" title="">weblink November 13, 2012, mdy-all, were held in Rimini, Italy in 2011, with the first FIBA 3x3 World Championships for senior teams following a year later in Athens. The sport is highly tipped to become an Olympic sport as early as 2016.WEB, 3-on-3 basketball might become big time?, ESPN, January 11, 2011,weblink In the summer of 2017, the BIG3 basketball league, a professional 3x3 half court basketball league that features former NBA players, began. The BIG3 features several rule variants including a four-point field goal.WEB,weblink Big3 begins: Ice Cube's new 3-on-3 league starts with a bang,

Other variations

There are also other basketball sports, such as:{{colbegin|colwidth=15em}}
  • 21 (also known as American, cutthroat and roughhouse)BOOK, Basketball and Baseball Games: For the Driveway, Field Or the Alleyway, Eric Shanburn, AuthorHouse, 2008, 978-1-4343-8912-1, June 29, 2010,weblink
, {{colend}}
  • Wheelchair basketball - Wheelchair basketball, created by disabled World War II veterans,WEB,weblink Learn Basketball on FindSportsNow,, November 5, 2007, July 25, 2010, is played on specially designed wheelchairs for the physically impaired. The world governing body of wheelchair basketball is the International Wheelchair Basketball FederationWEB, IWBF,weblink IWBF website,, July 25, 2010, (IWBF), and is a full medal sport in the Summer Paralympic Games.
  • Beach basketball - A modified version of basketball, played on beaches, was invented by Philip Bryant.WEB,weblink World Beach Basketball site,, May 5, 1995, July 25, 2010,weblink" title="">weblink August 9, 2010, live, mdy, Beach basketball is played in a circular court with no backboard on the goal, no out-of-bounds rule with the ball movement to be done via passes or 2{{sfrac|1|2}} steps, as dribbling is next to impossible on a soft surface.weblink web site Beach basketball has grown to a very popular, widespread competitive sport. 15 Annual World Championships have been organized.
Spin-offs from basketball that are now separate sports include:

Social forms of basketball

(File:BasketballHoop.jpg|thumb|Typical privately owned basketball hoop|alt=)Basketball has been adopted by various social groups, which have established their own environments and sometimes their own rules. Such socialized forms of basketball include the following.

Recreational basketball


Disabled basketball

  • Deaf basketball - One of several deaf sports, deaf basketball relies on signing for communication. Any deaf sporting event that happens, its purpose is to serve as a catalyst for the socialization of a low-incidence and geographically dispersed population.Stewart, David Alan. Deaf Sport: the Impact of Sports within the Deaf Community. Gallaudet University Press, 1991.
  • Wheelchair basketball - A sport based on basketball but designed for disabled people in wheelchairs and considered one of the major disabled sports practiced.There is a functional classification system that is used to help determine if the wheelchair basketball player classification system reflects the existing differences in the performance of elite female players. what this system does is it gives an analysis of the players' functional resources through field-testing and game observation. During this system's process, players are assigned a score of 1 to 4.5.â€œThe Relationship between Functional Potential and Field Performance in Elite Female Wheelchair Basketball Players.â€ Taylor & Francis,

Ethnic and Religion-based basketball


Prison basketball

Prison basketball is practiced in prisons and penitentiary institutions. Active religious basketball missionary groups also play basketball with prisoners. Some prisons have developed their own prison basketball leagues. At times, non-prisoners may play in such leagues, provided all home and away games are played within prison courts. Film director Jason Moriarty has released a documentary relating to the sport, entitled Prison Ball. Prison systems in the United States makes about $74 billion a year. The reason why prisons make so much money in a year is the fact that over 2.3 million Americans are currently incarcerated. It all started in 1972, the number of people in the United States prison has increased over 700% and now charges the taxpayer $39 billion to maintain every year. US population is only a little smaller than countries like Iceland, Estonia and Cyprus combined, so it was not a surprise that the US penal system has developed its own type of subculture. There is a lot of people that when they hear "correctional facility" think about men behind bars and playing card and lifting weights in the yard. That's almost correct but most people don't know that there is a wide range of athletic opportunities available in today's penitentiaries. Prison leagues are becoming the best way and most popular way inmates spend their time. For younger offenders, basketball is a good way to get their lives back on track, but for long term prisoners, these basketball leagues are a great way for them to get away from all their daily problems. Some prison leagues sometimes get blessed with their own celebrities. "Pee Wee" Kirkland who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, but turned it down because he was making way more money in the drug world. Eventually caught up and arrested, he then found himself playing in the Anthracite Basketball League, representing Lewis-burgh penitentiary. Also, another celebrity Michael Vick used the football prison league to stay in shape. Some other big names that played in prison basketball leagues are Allen Iverson, JR Smith and Plaxico Burress, for some prison leagues can be a valuable training ground.Tack, T. (2016, January 12). The Prison Leagues: Organized Sports in the US Penal System. Retrieved fromweblink

Show basketball

  • Slamball offered as entertainment events. Slamball is a very intense form of basketball game actually it is an elevated game of basketball that is infused with football tactics and involves bouncing of a trampolines.Video, B/R. â€œSlamball: The World's Highest-Flying Sport Is Making a Comeback.â€ Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, This game is very popular in places like Europe and Australia, this intense game is full of contact just like football the trampolines are embedded in the floor around the baskets. The objective of the game is just like any sport you have to score points by getting the ball into the basket, this is mostly done by the player using the trampoline to go fly high in the air to come down with slam dunk. Not only do they use tactics from football but they also do the same style of substitution as hockey well you can say it's very similar. The potions of slamball are stopper, gunner and handler. The stopper is the defender and is in control of the whole defensive plan. The handler is basically the point guard of the game, their in control of setting plays on the offensive end and helps a little on defensive end as well. The last position the gunner is the one that does most of the scoring and all also helps out on the defensive end.Rossi, C. (2018, March 07). Slamball is the MMA of basketball. Retrieved fromweblink

Other forms

  • Mini basketball played by underage children.
  • Maxi Basketball played by more elderly individuals.

Fantasy basketball


See also





General references
  • WEB

, National Basketball Association
, 2014
, Official Rules of the National Basketball Association
, March 6, 2015
, April 2, 2015
, dead
  • BOOK

, June 2004
, Official Basketball Rules
, International Basketball Federation
, dead
,weblink" title="">weblink
, December 22, 2005
, mdy-all

, Anthony
, Reimer
, June 2005
, FIBA vs North American Rules Comparison
, FIBA Assist
, 14
, 40â€“44
  • WEB

, Bonsor, Kevin
, How Basketball Works: Who's Who
, HowStuffWorks
, January 11, 2006
,weblink" title="">weblink
, January 1, 2006
, live
, mdy

Further reading

  • BOOK, Adolph H, Grundman, 2004, The golden age of amateur basketball: the AAU Tournament, 1921â€“1968,weblink University of Nebraska Press, 0-8032-7117-4,
  • BOOK, Batchelor, Bob, 2005, Basketball in America: from the playgrounds to Jordan's game and beyond,weblink Routledge, 978-0-7890-1613-3,
  • BOOK, Brown, Donald H, 2007, A Basketball Handbook,weblink AuthorHouse, 978-1-4259-6190-9,
  • BOOK, Forrest C, Allen, 1991, All you wanted to know about Basketball,weblink Sterling publishing, 81-207-2576-X,
  • BOOK, Grundy, Pamela, Susan Shackelford, 2005, Shattering the glass: the remarkable history of women's basketball,weblink New Press, 1-56584-822-5,
  • BOOK, Herzog, Brad, 2003, Hoopmania: The Book of Basketball History and Trivia,weblink Rosen Pub. Group, 0-8239-3697-X,
  • BOOK, Simmons, Bill, 2009, The book of basketball: the NBA according to the sports guy,weblink Ballantine/ESPN Books, 978-0-345-51176-8,
  • BOOK, Naismith, James, 1941, Basketball: its origin and development,weblink University of Nebraska Press, 0-8032-8370-9,

External links

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Eastern Philosophy
History of Philosophy
M.R.M. Parrott