100 Words Every NBA Fan Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Alley-oop	A pass finished midair with a dunk.
2.	And-one	Scoring while fouled; earns a free throw.
3.	Assist	Pass directly leading to a made basket.
4.	Backcourt	Half with your defensive basket; also guards.
5.	Backdoor cut	Cut behind defender toward the rim.
6.	Bailout pass	Desperation pass to avoid a bad shot.
7.	Ball screen	Teammate blocks defender to free ballhandler.
8.	Bank shot	Shot that hits backboard before scoring.
9.	Baseline	End boundary line behind each basket.
10.	Bench mob	Reserve unit energizing the game.
11.	Block	Defensive deflection of an opponent’s shot.
12.	Blow-by	Beating defender off the dribble.
13.	Bonus	Team fouls trigger free throws for opponent.
14.	Box out	Positioning to keep opponent from rebounding.
15.	Box-and-one	Four zone, one defender shadows star.
16.	Breakdown	Defensive mistake creating an open look.
17.	Buzzer-beater	Shot released before horn to end period.
18.	Catch-and-shoot	Shoot immediately upon receiving a pass.
19.	Charge	Offensive foul for running into set defender.
20.	Closeout	Sprint to contest a shooter after pass.
21.	Clutch	High-pressure late-game performance.
22.	Coach’s challenge	Request replay review of a call.
23.	Corner three	Three-pointer from either corner near baseline.
24.	Crossover	Quick dribble move switching hands to shake defender.
25.	Crunch time	Final minutes of a close game.
26.	Cut	Off-ball movement to get open or score.
27.	Defensive rating	Points allowed per 100 possessions.
28.	Deflection	Touching a pass or dribble to disrupt.
29.	DHO	Dribble handoff; ballhandler hands to teammate.
30.	Dime	Slang for an excellent assist.
31.	Double team	Two defenders trap one offensive player.
32.	Double-double	Two stats in double digits in a game.
33.	Down screen	Off-ball screen set toward baseline.
34.	Draft lottery	Randomized system determining top draft picks.
35.	Drop coverage	Big defender stays back on pick-and-roll.
36.	Dunk	Forcefully scoring by slamming ball through rim.
37.	Elbow	Free-throw line extended area on either side.
38.	Empty corner	Corner cleared to open driving lane.
39.	Eurostep	Two-step move to avoid a defender at rim.
40.	Fast break	Quick transition offense before defense sets.
41.	Field goal %	Made shots divided by attempted shots.
42.	Fifth foul	Five personals; one more fouls out.
43.	Flagrant foul	Unnecessary contact; extra penalties and free throws.
44.	Floater	Soft runner shot over taller defenders.
45.	Force baseline	Defensive tactic steering ballhandler to baseline.
46.	Fourth quarter	Final period of regulation play.
47.	Free throw	Uncontested shot awarded after certain fouls.
48.	Frontcourt	Offensive half; also forwards and center.
49.	Full-court press	Defense applying pressure across the entire court.
50.	Goaltending	Illegally touching ball on downward shot path.
51.	Gravity	Star’s attention drawing creates teammate space.
52.	Green light	Coach allows player to shoot freely.
53.	Handoff	Ball transferred directly to a nearby teammate.
54.	Hedge	Big shows on screen then recovers.
55.	Help defense	Leaving assignment to stop a drive.
56.	High pick-and-roll	Ball screen set near top of key.
57.	Hook shot	One-handed shot arcing over defender.
58.	Ice	Pick-and-roll defense forcing ball away from screen.
59.	Illegal screen	Moving pick; offensive foul on screener.
60.	Isolation	Clearing space for one-on-one scoring.
61.	Jumper	Jump shot from midrange or beyond.
62.	Key	Paint area including free-throw lane.
63.	Kickout	Pass from drive to open perimeter shooter.
64.	Layup	Close-range shot off the backboard or rim.
65.	Load management	Planned rest to reduce injury risk.
66.	Lob	High-arc pass, often for an alley-oop.
67.	Loose ball foul	Foul away from a shot attempt.
68.	Man-to-man	Defense where each player guards one opponent.
69.	Midrange	Area between paint and three-point line.
70.	Mismatch	Advantage due to size, speed, or skill.
71.	Moving screen	Illegal screen while still shifting position.
72.	No-look pass	Pass thrown without looking at receiver.
73.	Off-ball screen	Screen set for a player without the ball.
74.	Offensive rating	Points scored per 100 possessions.
75.	Overtime	Extra period played after a tie.
76.	Paint	Shaded lane area near the basket.
77.	Pick-and-pop	Screener pops out for a jumper after screen.
78.	Pick-and-roll	Screen then roll to basket for pass.
79.	Plus-minus	Team score differential while player is on court.
80.	Possession	Team’s control of the ball until change.
81.	Post-up	Back-to-basket offense near the paint.
82.	Pull-up jumper	Jump shot taken off the dribble.
83.	Putback	Scoring immediately after an offensive rebound.
84.	Rebound	Gaining the ball after a missed shot.
85.	Rim protection	Defending shots at the basket effectively.
86.	Roll man	Screener who cuts to rim after screen.
87.	Rotation	Defensive shifting to cover open threats.
88.	Run	Extended scoring streak by one team.
89.	Screen	Legal block to impede defender’s path.
90.	Shot clock	Time limit to attempt a shot.
91.	Sixth man	Top bench player who closes many games.
92.	Spacing	Offensive floor balance creating driving and passing lanes.
93.	Split action	Two players screen/cut around a post catch.
94.	Step-back	Dribble move creating space for a jumper.
95.	Stretch five	Center who shoots threes, spacing the floor.
96.	Switch	Defenders exchange assignments after a screen.
97.	Technical foul	Penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct or violations.
98.	Three-point line	Arc beyond which shots count for three.
99.	Transition	Change from offense to defense, or vice versa.
100.	Triple-double	Three stats in double digits in a game.