Example: With 31 seconds remaining and his team down 95-98, Luka Donic attempts a three. Discover your gift, develop your gift, and then give it away every day. Or Steph Curry is automatic from the free-throw line because he is making over 90% of his shots. When I'm playing basketball i'm in a totally different world. When Basketball Phrases such as "Bench points" are mentioned, it means the amount of points scored from players on the Bench. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Slang is defined as informal and is more often common in the spoken word than in writing. Nowadays, with millions of fans out there to support them, basketball players never cease to show their skills and commitment to their game. The Patriot [Harrisburg, PA] 23 February 1918. Agility is a key basketball skill, particularly in one-on-one situations in which a ballhandler makes quick moves while the defender tries to remain between the attacker and the basket. They are now in the penalty, which means every foul from that point results to free throws for the other team, whether the foul is called in the act of shooting or not. Crashing the glass/boards is an effort play that indicates the tenacity of the player/s to go for a defensive or offensive rebound. Enter your email to get access to our best tips for success. For example, a 15-foot fadeaway is automatic for Michael Jordan. Definition: a badly missed shot in basketball, You know," Driscoll explains. A shot that hits nothing but net makes a swishing sound as it goes through the net. Regardless, basketball slang terms add a touch of fun and swagger to the game. 8) Respect: This is simple, but incredibly important. ), A ball hog is a derogatory term for a player who doesnt like to pass to his teammates. Basketball is a team sport. Airball: A shot attempt where the ball fails to make contact with any part of the basket. Create the energy in your own gyms, classrooms, and other environments. What Size Basketball Should a Youth Player Use. You have to be disciplined. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, youve lost your focus. Refuse to lose. It is an utterly embarrassing play if he shoots an airball. The Christian Science Monitor, 6 April 1962, Definition: a guard in basketball who is chiefly responsible for running the offense, The rebounding is handled so well the Derrick has moved 6-3 Willie Brown outside to play a point guard, or director of offense. The Nashville Tennessean, 15 December 1964. In sports, this refers to taking a tackle or making a personal sacrifice so your team can score. A great player must have the will to prepare to win. In this post, well highlight 30 of the best words to describe a good athlete and how you can use them in any sports discussion. Your email address will not be published. Shane Childress is the Clements girls coach. You can't be satisfied with your last performance. Also called ball denial, it is a defensive strategy that aims to put a defender between the person handling the ball and the person he is guarding. The term "cager" is used less frequently today, but some older players and fans still use it. The game is played on a rectangular floor called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. These words to describe athletes can be based on anything that you find interesting or unique such as physical characteristics and personality traits. The lane, also called the paint, is the area underneath the backboard extending to the free-throw line. The Warriors play a rare and exciting brand of basketball, and it appeals to the . 16: Loyalty you are honest with your family, your coaches, your teammates, your friends, your teachers, but most importantly, yourself. While a combination of hard work, practice and natural talent does go a long way in helping to develop a player, true greatness in basketball is achieved through developing the intangibles as well those traits that arent easily identifiable, but are the most important for reaching success in the sport. Barring any miraculous turnaround, the term that hit the field goal already won. Although basketball relies on your skills, standard basketball size will increase comfort and performance. 2.) If you want to say that you play one of these sports, you need to use the verb jugar followed by the preposition a and the name of the sport. 12: Practice Makes PePermanent practice does not make perfect, it instead makes permanent. Shaquille O'Neal. What are the 13 original rules of basketball? The word jump shot did not originate in basketball, as it was also term for a type of shot in billiards since the middle of the 19th century. Basketball is one of the most popular sports played all around the world. These five fundamental skills of basketball are dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, and defense. Here are some adjectives for basketball: fat, tabby, hard-nosed female, such snappy, two-hour one- on-one, high-profile professional, darn tough, unexpectedly exciting, simple high-topped, six-foot seven-inch, ridiculously funny, great, decisive, intermural, ofessional, paunchy old, professional female, six-foot tall, What are the physical Hoopsters The Logan Republican [Logan, UT] 23 February 1915. In the worst-case scenario, the defense may even slip and stumble trying to keep up with the offense. Failure and rejection are just the first steps to succeeding. Double Dribble is also an early basketball video game famous for its innovative and realistic (for the time) gameplay. Commentators may use this term when a player is hitting shots, preferably from his favorite spots. He has been a huge basketball fan for decades, watching thousands of basketball games through the years to learn the ins and outs of the game. 20: Finish the great Michael Jordan once said, Its not how hard you push along the way, its having something in you to finish. To get back on defense means the defending team must retreat back across the halfcourt line to prevent the other team from scoring. Most casual fans do not recognize basketball slang, so the more knowledgeable demographic often uses them. Everything negative pressure, challenges are all an opportunity for me to rise. By the 1960s the phrase had taken on the additional meaning of "an all-out effort or offensive. Set the standard of hustle in your practices, not in games. Use the activity in the LEARN section to learn 10 words and phrases used to describe different football actions. However, the term may also be used for any player that comes off the bench. Here are 4 of the best words to describe athletes who are Olympic game champions: Not everyone can win the gold medal. Words to Describe basketball As you've probably noticed, adjectives for " basketball " are listed above. (Example: Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are the Warriors starting backcourt.). Its memorable enough to be put on a poster, so to speak. It is thought to have been formed in imitation of allez-oop (a cry among circus acrobats), which itself probably comes from the French allez, meaning to go. Alley-oop was in occasional use among circus performers in the early 20th century. For example, in basketball, a team player would be the player who passes the ball to a stronger shooter to take the shot. Basketball was initially played with a soccer ball and instead of a basketball net, the players used a peach basket that had a bottom and the balls had to be manually retrieved after each point scored. This is also called a moving screen.. That will set great players apart from mediocre players. Allen C., Woodstock, NY. Plus a few failed terms that never quite made it, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Mentality. Take accountability and responsibility for your actions, your dedication, your work ethic, and ultimately, your decisions. These terms are highly descriptive, evoking emotions from both sides of the spectrum. Dribbling. Obstacles dont have to stop you. The point guard is the player on a basketball team who calls the plays, and is responsible for directing the offense. Delivered to your inbox! Find 49 ways to say PLAYER, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. An ankle breaker is usually done with a crossover dribble, an intermediate dribbling move done by faking one direction and going the other. I know it is hard to stay game-focused all day, every game day. Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. Here are some adjectives for basketball: fat, tabby, hard-nosed female, such snappy, two-hour one- on-one, high-profile professional, darn tough, unexpectedly exciting, simple high-topped, six-foot seven-inch, ridiculously funny, great, decisive, intermural, ofessional, paunchy old, professional female, six-foot tall, 21: Intensity an effort defined by expression of great zeal, energy, determination, and concentration. The Sunday Republican [Springfield, MA] 16 January 1977. Why not have a great attitude every single day? Here are some words and phrases to use when describing great athletes in English: It takes drive. However, given the disparity between the level of popularity enjoyed by billiards and basketball, it is not surprising that the term should have come to be more identified with the latter than the former. The term "cager" was first used in the early 1900s and likely comes from the similarity between a basketball court and a cage. 4) A great teammate is humble: Basketball is a team sport. 3.) In this page you can discover 25 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for basketball, like: hoop, b-ball, sport, hoops, basketball game, hoopfest, cage meet, court game, round ball, basket-ball and hockey. You cant get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good. Baller The term baller originally referred to basketball players. Basketball, as with many other sports, is a mental game more so than it is physical. This slang probably originated from assisting or helping the police with a piece of valuable information, often through the telephone. When you hear this term used in a basketball game, it simply means the three-point area. For example, when somebody says, Steph Curry hasnt made a shot from downtown, it means he has not converted a three-point basket yet. These are aspects that are visually apparent, knowing nothing else about the person. Second place goes to baseball's Barry Bonds with seven awards. Respect the facilities you play in and the environments you are surrounded by. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. Playing and watching basketball long enough brings you in contact with basketball terms and jargon. Muscular endurance lets you play hard down to the game's last minute. A combo guard is a player that can play both point and shooting guards equally well. 8.) Volleyball Tips: How To Serve A Volleyball. Double dribble: dribbling the ball before picking it up and dribbling again. Be bigger than negative people and show off your true self all the time, not just when things are going well. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. "Air balls (shots that don't hit the rim or backboard) and glass balls (shots that bounce off glass backboards like rockets). 23: Excellence the habit of excellence can become enjoyable addictive (Dick DeVenzio, author of Stuff Good Players Should Know). Fungo: A ball hit to a fielder during practice. bucket: A good multipurpose word that can mean the basket itself or a made basket; also can be used as an adjective for an especially good shooter, as in "That guy is bucket." bury a jumper: To make an especially pretty jump shot. 55 Common Basketball Terms. 2017-2021 CoachUp, Inc. Privacy Policy Terms of Service. Ask what you can do for your teammates. Short for isolation. Isolation is a play that allows a player to take on a defender 1-on-1 on a specific part of the court. Create a goal for this season. 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