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 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the defender's hoop
(a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) 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 shots—
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.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.
In early December 1891, Canadian James Naismith,[4] a physical education professor and instructor
at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School[5] (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 10-foot (3.0 m) 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.
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.[6][7] These laces
could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable.[8] 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 – discuss] Dribbling was
common by 1896, with a rule against the double dribble by 1898.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11]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."[12][13] 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 1–0;
the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 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 1897–1898 teams of five became standard.

College basketball
See also: College basketball
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.[14] 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.[15][16][17] The School of
Agriculture won in a 9–3 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 University—Naismith's alma mater—visited Queen's University. McGill
won 9–7 in overtime; the score was 7–7 at the end of regulation play, and a ten-minute overtime period
settled the outcome. A good turnout of spectators watched the game.[18]
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

A basketball game between the Heart Mountainand 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.[19] 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
2016–17 season, 980,673 boys and girls represented their schools in interscholastic basketball
competition, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] The National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament from 1954 to 1978 played at a
series of venues, including Catholic University, Georgetown and George Mason.[23] The National
Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools was held from 1929 to 1942 at Hampton
Institute.[24] 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.[25]

Professional basketball
Ad from The Liberatormagazine promoting an exhibition in Harlem, March 1922. Drawing by Hugo Gellert.

Teams abounded throughout the 1920s. There were hundreds of men's professional basketball teams
in towns and cities all over the United States, and little organization of the professional game. Players
jumped from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls. Leagues came and
went. Barnstorming squads such as the Original Celtics and two all-African American teams, the New
York Renaissance Five ("Rens") and the (still existing) Harlem Globetrotters played up to two hundred
games a year on their national tours.
In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. The first game was played
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers on
November 1, 1946. Three seasons later, in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball
League(NBL) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). By the 1950s, basketball had
become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of interest in professional basketball.
In 1959, a basketball hall of fame was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, site of the first game.
Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches, referees and people who have contributed
significantly to the development of the game. The hall of fame has people who have accomplished
many goals in their career in basketball. An upstart organization, the American Basketball Association,
emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries,
talent, and level of competition.
The NBA has featured many famous players, including George Mikan, the first dominating "big man";
ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy and defensive genius Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics; charismatic
center Wilt Chamberlain, who originally played for the barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters; all-around
stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry West; more recent big men Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille
O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone; playmakers John Stockton, Isiah Thomas and Steve
Nash; crowd-pleasing forwards Julius Erving and Charles Barkley; European stars Dirk Nowitzki, Pau
Gasol and Tony Parker; more recent superstars LeBron James, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant; and
the three players who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity
during the 1980s and 1990s: Larry Bird, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Michael Jordan.
In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the National Basketball Development League (later
known as the NBA D-League and then the NBA G League after a branding deal with Gatorade). As of
the 2018–19 season, the G League has 27 teams.

International basketball
The U.S. playing against Mexico at the 2014 FIBA World Cup

FIBA (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 Fédération
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.[26] 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.

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 Dražen Petrović and Toni Kukoč, Serbian Vlade Divac,
Lithuanians Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis, 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 (April–September) and did so until the completion of the
20th season in 1998. The 1998–99 season, which commenced only months later, was the first season
after the shift to the current summer season format (October–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

The Australian women's basketball team on winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship

Women'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.[27] 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.[28] However, the first women's interinstitutional
game was played in 1892 between the University of California and Miss Head's School.[29] 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.[28] Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's
intercollegiate basketball game at Smith College, March 21, 1893.[30] 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 2–1 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.[31] 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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[31] 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.[31]

Brittney Griner accepting an award

The 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 (1996–
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."[33]

Rules and regulations

End of a match as the shot clock shows no time left

Most important terms related to the basketball court

Main article: Rules of basketball

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 6.75 metres (22 ft 2 in) from the basket in international games[citation needed] and 23 feet
9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA games.[34] 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)[35] or 12 minutes (NBA).[36] College men's games use
two 20-minute halves,[37] college women's games use 10-minute quarters,[38] and most United States
high school varsity games use 8-minute quarters; however, this varies from state to state.[39][40] 15
minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules[37][41][42] and 10 minutes in
United States high schools.[39] Overtime periods are five minutes in length[37][43][44] except for high school,
which is four minutes in length.[39] 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.[45][46][47][48] 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.

Equipment
Main articles: Basketball (ball), Basketball court, and Backboard (basketball)

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.

An outdoor basketball net

A regulation basketball court in international games is 91.9 feet (28.0 meters) long and 49.2 feet (15
meters) wide. In the NBAand NCAA the court is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 meters).[34] Most courts
have wood flooring, usually constructed from mapleplanks running in the same direction as the longer
court dimension.[49][50] The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or around the center
circle.
The basket is a steel rim 18 inches (46 cm) diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that
measures 6 by 3.5 feet (1.8 by 1.1 meters) and one basket is at each end of the court. The white
outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches (46 cm) high and 2 feet (61 cm) wide. At almost all levels
of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (3.05 meters) above the court and 4 feet (1.22
meters) 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 – 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 29.5 inches (75 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 28.5 inches (72 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).[51]

Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped,
rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).
The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits
possession. The ball is out of bounds if it touches a boundary line, or touches any player or object that
is out of bounds.
There are limits placed on the steps a player may take without dribbling, which commonly results in
an infraction known as traveling. Nor may a player stop his dribble and then resume dribbling. A dribble
that touches both hands is considered stopping the dribble, giving this infraction the name double
dribble. Within a dribble, the player cannot carry the ball by placing his hand on the bottom of the ball;
doing so is known as carrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of
their court, may not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. A violation of these rules
results in loss of possession.
The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist. For the offense, a violation of these rules results
in loss of possession; for the defense, most leagues reset the shot clock and the offensive team is
given possession of the ball out of bounds.
There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in
FIBA and the NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA and high school for both sexes), before attempting a shot
(24 seconds in FIBA, the NBA, and U Sports (Canadian universities) play for both sexes, and 30
seconds in NCAA play for both sexes), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and
remaining in the restricted area known as the free-throw lane, (or the "key") (3 seconds). These rules
are designed to promote more offense.
Basket interference, or goaltending is a violation charged when a player illegally interferes with a
shot. This violation is incurred when a player touches the ball on its downward trajectory to the basket,
unless it is obvious that the ball has no chance of entering the basket, if a player touches the ball while
it is in the rim, or in the area extended upwards from the basket, or if a player reaches through the
basket to interfere with the shot. When a defensive player is charged with goaltending, the basket is
awarded. If an offensive player commits the infraction, the basket is cancelled. In either case
possession of the ball is turned over to the defensive team.

Fouls
The referee signals that a foul has been committed

Main articles: Personal foul (basketball) and Technical foul

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 15 feet (4.6 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) – four for NBA, NCAA
women's, and international games – 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

Positions
Main article: Basketball position

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.[52] 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.

Strategy
Main article: Basketball playbook
There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. In a zone defense,
each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. Zone defenses often allow the defense
to double team the ball, a manoeuver known as a trap. In a man-to-man defense, each defensive
player guards a specific opponent.
Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without
the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is
known as a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate,
by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a screen or pick. The
two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from
the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the
quick passes and teamwork, which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have
several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court, the point guard
is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur.

Shooting

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.
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.

Slow-motion animation of a dunk

Another shot that is becoming common[citation needed] 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.

Rebounding
Main article: Rebound (basketball)

A player making an offensive rebound

The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed field
goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the game, as
most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of rebounds: offensive
rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not change possession, and
defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority of
rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to recover missed shots.

Passing
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.

Dribbling

A demonstration of the basic types of dribbling in basketball

A U.S. Naval Academy ("Navy") player, left, posts up a U.S. Military Academy ("Army") defender.

Main article: Dribble

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.

Blocking
Main article: Block (basketball)
A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by
touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball after it is in the downward
path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's NCAA basketball
to block a shot after it has touched the backboard, or when any part of the ball is directly above the
rim. Under international rules it is illegal to block a shot that is in the downward path of its arc or one
that has touched the backboard until the ball has hit the rim. After the ball hits the rim, it is again legal
to touch it even though it is no longer considered as a block performed.
To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is released. Thus,
height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and playing the power forward or center
positions generally record more blocks than players who are shorter and playing the guard positions.
However, with good timing and a sufficiently high vertical leap, even shorter players can be effective
shot blockers.

Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and most women
above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). 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 6 feet
6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a survey
given to all NBA teams,[when?] the average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet 7 inches
(2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest players ever in the
NBA were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. At 7 feet
2 inches (2.18 m), 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 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m).[53] Other
short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
tall, but had a 42-inch (1.1 m) 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 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."[54] 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.[55][56]
Notable players who overstated their height include:

 Kobe Bryant whose listed height is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m), while his actual height is 6 feet
4 inches (1.93 m)[57]
 Charles Barkley whose listed height is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m), while his actual height is just under
6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)[54]
 Kevin Love whose listed height is 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m), while his actual height is just under
6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m)[58]
 Jason Collins whose listed height is 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m), while his actual height is 6 feet
8 inches (2.03 m)[59]
 Dwight Howard whose listed height is 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m), while his actual height is 6 feet
9 inches (2.06 m)[60]
On rare occasions, some players will understate their actual heights, not to be repositioned. One
example is Kevin Durant, whose listed height is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m), while his actual height is
7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m). 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."[61]

Race and ethnicity

Main article: Race and ethnicity in the NBA
The composition of race and ethnicity in the National Basketball Association (NBA) has changed
throughout the league's history. For the 2014-2015 season, international players comprised 21.3
percent of NBA rosters. The same year, the racial breakdown of the NBA was:[62]

 African-American / Black 74.4 percent

 Caucasian 23.3 percent
 Latino (of any race) 1.8 percent
 Asian and "other" 0.2 percent
The first non-white player entered the league in 1947.[63] Wataru Misaka debuted in 1947–48 as the
first non-white player and the first player of Asian descent to play in the league.[63] Yao Ming became
the first East Asian first overall pick, when he was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 2002 NBA
draft.
In 2011, Richard Lapchick with The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) of the University
of Central Florida reported in their annual Racial and Gender Report Card that 17 percent of the
league's players were white, the lowest since the report began in 1990.[a][64][66][67] Hall of Fame player
and Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird, who is white, stated in 2004 that the
league needed more white players since the league's fans are mostly white. "And if you just had a
couple of white guys in there, you might get them [the fans, not the guys] a little excited. But it is a
black man's game, and it will be forever. I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-
American," said Bird.[68][69]
More recently, a number of commentators have remarked on the league's dwindling number of white
American players. While a TIDES study found that the NBA was 18.3% white in the 2015–16 season,
this number also included non-Americans, most notably Europeans. During the entire 1996–97
season, only three NBA teams did not field an American-born white; on the opening day of the 2016–
17 season, eight teams did not have a white American on their roster, and an additional 10 teams had
only one. At the latter point in time, fewer than 10% of NBA players were American-born whites (43
out of a possible 450).[70]
These proportions have been suggested to be the result of basketball's relatively minor importance in
white American culture. As of 2014, white interest in the NBA remains the lowest among all racial
groups, with African Americans and Asian Americans spending the most time watching basketball,
followed by Hispanics (of any race).[71] Furthermore, according to a Nielsen's survey, the NBA has the
highest share of black viewers, with 45 percent of its viewers being black and only about 40 percent
of viewers being white, making it the only top North American sport that doesn't have a white majority
audience.[72] The NBA's popularity further declined among whites, who during the 2016–17 season,
only made up 34% of the overall viewership. At the same time, the black viewership increased to 47
percent, while Hispanics (of any race) stood at 11 percent and Asian viewership stood at eight
percent.[73]

Variations and similar games

Main article: Variations of basketball

Schoolgirls shooting hoops among the Himalayas in Dharamsala, India.

A basketball training course at the Phan Đình Phùng High School, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Variations 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 1.5m×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.
A basketball court in Tamil Nadu, India

Half-court
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" – 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 Championships[74] 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.[75] 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.[76]

Other variations
There are also other basketball sports, such as:

 21 (also known as American, cutthroatand roughhouse)[77]

 42
 Around the world
 Bounce
 Firing Squad
 Fives
 H-O-R-S-E
 Hotshot
 Knockout
 One-shot conquer
 Steal The Bacon
 Tip-it
 Tips
 "The One"
 Basketball War.
 One-on-One - It is a variation in which two players will use only a small section of the court (often
no more than a half of a court) and compete to play the ball into a single hoop. Such games tend
to emphasize individual dribbling and ball stealing skills over shooting and team play.

 Wheelchair basketball - Wheelchair basketball, created by disabled World War II veterans,[78] is

played on specially designed wheelchairs for the physically impaired. The world governing body
of wheelchair basketball is the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation[79] (IWBF), and is a
full medal sport in the Summer Paralympic Games.

 Water basketball - Water basketball, played in a swimming pool, merges basketball and water
polo rules.

 Beach basketball - A modified version of basketball, played on beaches, was invented by Philip
Bryant.[80] 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 21/2 steps, as dribbling is next to
impossible on a soft surface.[81] Beach basketball has grown to a very popular, widespread
competitive sport. 15 Annual World Championships have been organized.

 Dunk Hoops - Dunk Hoops (a.k.a. Dunk Ball) is a variation of the game of basketball, played on
basketball hoops with lowered (under basketball regulation 10 feet) rims. It originated when the
popularity of the slam dunk grew and was developed to create better chances for dunks with
lowered rims and using altered goaltending rules.

 Slamball - Slamball is full-contact basketball, with trampolines. Points are scored by playing the
ball through the net, as in basketball, though the point-scoring rules are modified. The main
differences from the parent sport is the court; below the padded basketball rim and backboard are
four trampolines set into the floor, which serve to propel players to great heights for slam dunks.
The rules also permit some physical contact between the members of the four-player teams.

 Streetball - Streetball is a less formal variant of basketball, played on playgrounds and in

gymnasiums across the world. Often only one half of the court is used, but otherwise, the rules of
the game are very similar to those of basketball. The number of participants in a game, or a run,
may range from one defender and one person on offense (known as one on one) to two full teams
of five each. Streetball is a very popular game worldwide, and some cities in the United States
have organized streetball programs, such as midnight basketball. Many cities also host their own
weekend-long streetball tournaments.

 Unicycle basketball - Unicycle basketball is played using a regulation basketball on a regular

basketball court with the same rules, for example, one must dribble the ball while riding. There are
a number of rules that are particular to unicycle basketball as well, for example, a player must
have at least one foot on a pedal when in-bounding the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played
using 24" or smaller unicycles, and using plastic pedals, both to preserve the court and the players'
shins. In North America, popular unicycle basketball games are organized.[82]
Spin-offs from basketball that are now separate sports include:

 Ringball, a traditional South African sport that stems from basketball, has been played since 1907.
The sport is now promoted in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, India, and Mauritius to
establish Ringball as an international sport.
 Korfball (Dutch: Korfbal, korf meaning 'basket') started in the Netherlands and is now played
worldwide as a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball and basketball
 Netball (formerly known as Women basketball but now played by both males and females), a
limited-contact team sport in which two teams of seven try to score points against one another by
placing a ball through a high hoop. Australia New Zealand champions (so called ANZ
Championship) is very famous in Australia and New Zealand as the premier netball league.

Social forms of basketball

Typical privately owned basketball hoop

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
Basketball is played widely casually in schools and colleges where fun, entertainment and
camaraderie rule rather than winning a game.

 Basketball Schools and Academies, where students are trained in developing basketball
fundamentals, undergo fitness and endurance exercises and learn various basketball skills.
Basketball students learn proper ways of passing, ball handling, dribbling, shooting from various
distances, rebounding, offensive moves, defense, layups, screens, basketball rules and
basketball ethics. Also popular are the basketball camps organized for various occasions, often
to get prepared for basketball events, and basketball clinics for improving skills.
 College and University basketball played in educational institutions of higher learning. This
includes National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) intercollegiate basketball.
Disabled basketball
Disabled basketball is played by various disabled groups, such as the deaf and physically crippled
people.

 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.[83]
 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.[84]
Ethnic and Religion-based basketball
Examples of ethnic basketball include Indo-Pak or Russian or Armenian leagues in the United States
or Canada, for example, or Filipino expatriate basketball leagues in the Gulf or the United States.
Religion-based basketball includes, most notably, church-related Christian basketball leagues,
Jewish, Muslim and Hindu basketball leagues, and so on. or denominational leagues like Coptic,
Syriac/Assyrian basketball leagues in the United States or Canada.

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.[85]

Show basketball
Show basketball is performed by entertainment basketball show teams, the prime example being
the Harlem Globetrotters. There are even specialized entertainment teams, such as teams of
celebrities, people with short heights and others.

 Celebrity basketball teams made of celebrities (actors, singers, and so on.) playing in their own
leagues or in public, often for entertainment and charity events;
 Midget basketball teams made up of athletes of short stature offering shows using 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.[86] 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.[87]
Other forms
 Gay basketball played in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in gay basketball
leagues. The sport of basketball is a major part of events during the Gay Games, World
Outgames and EuroGames.
 Midnight basketball, a basketball initiative to curb inner-city crime in the United States and
elsewhere by keeping urban youth off the streets and engaging them with sports alternatives to
drugs and crime.
 Mini basketball played by underage children.
 Maxi Basketball played by more elderly individuals.
 Rezball, short for reservation ball, is the avid Native American following of basketball, particularly
a style of play particular to Native American teams of some areas.
 School or High school basketball, the sport of basketball being one of the most frequently
exercised and popular sports in all school systems.

Fantasy basketball
Main article: Fantasy basketball
Fantasy basketball was popularized during the 1990s after the advent of the Internet. Those who
play this game are sometimes referred to as General Managers, who draft actual NBA players and
compute their basketball statistics. The game was popularized by ESPN Fantasy Sports, NBA.com,
and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports. Other sports websites provided the same format keeping the game
interesting with participants actually owning specific players.