The rules of basketball can vary slightly depending on the level of play (for example

professional rules differ from college rules) or where the game is played (international rules
are different from USA professional rules). These rule differences, however, are usually just
variations on the basic game of basketball and the majority of the rules discussed below can
be applied to most any game of basketball played.

The winner of a basketball game is the team with the most points. You get points by
throwing the basketball through the opponent's hoop or basket. In regular play a basket
made from within the three point line is worth 2 points and a basket shot from outside the
three point line is worth three points. When shooting a free throw, each free throw is worth 1
point.

Rules for the offense

The basketball team on offense is the team with the basketball. When a player has the
basketball there are certain rules they must follow:
1) The player must bounce, or dribble, the ball with one hand while moving both feet. If,
at any time, both hands touch the ball or the player stops dribbling, the player must
only move one foot. The foot that is stationary is called the pivot foot.

2) The basketball player can only take one turn at dribbling. In other words, once a
player has stopped dribbling they cannot start another dribble. A player who starts
dribbling again is called for a double-dribbling violation and looses the basketball to
the other team. A player can only start another dribble after another player from
either team touches or gains control of the basketball. This is usually after a shot or
pass.

3) The ball must stay in bounds. If the offensive team looses the ball out of bounds
the other team gets control of the basketball.

4) The players hand must be on top of the ball while dribbling. If they touch the
bottom of the basketball while dribbling and continue to dribble this is called carrying
the ball and the player will lose the ball to the other team.

5) Once the offensive team crosses half court, they may not go back into the
backcourt. This is called a backcourt violation. If the defensive team knocks the ball
into the backcourt, then the offensive team can recover the ball legally.

Defensive Rules

The team on defence is the team without the basketball.

1) The main rule for the defensive player is not to foul. A foul is described as gaining
an unfair advantage through physical contact. There is some interpretation that has
to be made by the referee, but, in general, the defensive player may not touch the
offensive player in a way that causes the offensive player to lose the ball or miss a
shot.
 Rules for everyone

1) Although the foul rule is described above as a defensive rule, it applies exactly the
same to all players on the court including offensive players.

2) Basketball players cannot kick the ball or hit it with their fist.

3) No player can touch the basketball while it is traveling downward towards the
basket or if it is on the rim. This is called goaltending. (touching the ball on the rim is
legal in some games).

Every player on the court is subject to the same rules regardless of the position they
play. The positions in basketball are just for team basketball strategy and there are
no positions in the rules.

Basketball Court

here are a lot of different signals that basketball referees, also called officials, use in
the game. It can get confusing. This is a list of the different basketball referee hand
signals and what they mean. The specific rules below are described in more detail
on other pages (see links at bottom of page).

Referee Basketball
Violations Signals
Walking or traveling Five second violation
(not bouncing the ball while walking)

Ten seconds (taking more than 10

Illegal or double dribble seconds to get the ball over half court)

Carrying or Palming the ball

Kicking (intentionally kicking the ball)

Over and back (half-court violation)

Three seconds (offensive player is in the
lane or key for more than 3 seconds)

Referee Basketball Foul Signals

Hand check Charging or player control foul

Holding Intentional foul

Blocking Technical foul or "T" (generally for

misconduct or unsportsmanlike behavior)

Pushing

Other Referee Signals

No Score
Jump Ball
30 second time out

Start clock

Three point attempt

Stop clock

Three point score

Note on Basketball Referees

Keep in mind that the referees are there to make the game better. Without
officials the game would be no fun at all and they are doing the best they can.
They WILL make mistakes. Basketball is a difficult game to referee. That's just
how it is. Getting angry, yelling at the ref, and throwing a fit does no good and
will not help you or your team. Just keep playing and listen to the refs
regardless of whether you agree with the call or not. Move on to the next play.
They are doing the best they can and are trying to make the game enjoyable
for all.
Basketball is sometimes called a non-contact sport. Although, there is plenty of legal
contact between players, some contact is considered illegal. If an official decides that
the contact is illegal, they will call a personal foul.

Most of the fouls in a game are committed by the defence, but the offense can
commit fouls as well. Here are list of some of the types of fouls.
Typical Defensive Fouls

Blocking - A blocking foul is called when one player uses their body to prevent the
movement of another player. This is often called when the defensive player is trying
to draw a charge, but does not have their feet set or initiates the contact.

Referee signal for blocking foul

Hand Check - A hand check foul is called when a player uses their hands to impede
or slow the movement of another player. This is usually called on the defensive
player covering the player with the ball on the perimeter.

Holding - Similar to a hand check foul, but is generally called when a player grabs
another player and holds on to prevent them from moving.

Illegal Hand Use - This foul is called for any use of the hands on another player that
the referee thinks is illegal. It's generally called when you hit another player on the
arm during shooting or when trying to steal the ball.

Typical Offensive Fouls

Charging - Charging is called on the player with the ball when they run into a player
that already has position. If the defensive player doesn't have position or is moving,
then generally the official will call blocking on the defender.

Referee signal for a charging foul

Moving Screen - A moving screen is called when the player setting the pick
or screen is moving. When setting a screen you have to stand still and
maintain position. Sliding a bit over to block your opponent will cause a
moving screen foul to be called.

Over the Back - This foul is called when rebounding. If one player has
position, the other player is not allowed to jump up over their back to try and
 get the ball. This is called on both offensive and defensive players.

Who Decides?

The officials decide if a foul is committed. While some fouls are obvious,
others are more difficult to determine. The referee has the final say, however,
arguing will get you nowhere.
Sometimes referees will call the game "close". This means they are calling fouls with
just a little bit of contact. Other times the referees will call the game "loose" or allow
more contact. As a player or coach you should try to understand how the referee is
calling the game and adjust your play accordingly.

Depending on the situation and type of foul in basketball, the penalty will be different.
Non-shooting fouls generally cause the team to lose possession of the ball. Shooting
fouls result in free throws. If the basket was made when the player was fouled, then
the basket counts and one free throw is awarded. If the basket wasn't made, then
either two free throws or three (if the player was attempting a three point shot when
fouled) are awarded.

Player shooting a free throw

Source: US Navy

Fouling Out

Each time a player commits a foul, they get another personal foul added to
their name. If they reach a certain total during they game they will have
"fouled out" and will not be allowed to play any more. It takes five fouls to foul
out in college and high school, six fouls in the NBA.

Team Fouls
 The total number of team fouls add up during the game as well. After a certain
number of fouls, a team is considered "over the limit" and free throws will be
awarded for non-shooting fouls. The rules for the NBA and college/high
school are different:
BA - Team fouls are added up per quarter. Four fouls are allowed with two free
throws being awarded starting with the fifth foul. Only defensive fouls count toward
team fouls.

NCAA college and High School - Team fouls are added up per half. After 6 fouls a
team is awarded a one-and-one free throw. A one-and-one means that the first free
throw must be made in order to get a second free throw. If the player misses the first,
the ball is live and play begins. After 10 fouls in a half, two free throws are awarded.

Technical Foul

A technical foul is given for unsportsmanlike conduct or other infraction. This can
range from fighting to arguing with the official. Both coaches and players can get
technical fouls.

In high school the penalty for a technical foul is two free throws and the ball for the
other team. Also, if a player or coach receives two technicals during a game, they will
be ejected. In college a technical foul counts as a personal foul as well, so it adds
into fouling out. In the NBA a technical foul does not count as a personal foul.

Flagrant Foul

Another type of foul in basketball is the flagrant foul. This is when a foul could
seriously injure an opponent. Generally two free throws and possession of the ball
are awarded. In high school and college the player committing the flagrant foul is
ejected from the game. In the NBA it can count as a technical foul or the player can
be ejected depending on the severity of the foul.

Basketball: Rules Violations

Here is a list and description of non-foul violations in the game of basketball. The
penalty for most violations is loss of possession of the ball.

Traveling (walking)

One of the basic ideas of the sport of basketball is that you have to dribble or bounce
the ball while you are walking or running. When you have stopped dribbling one of
your feet will become your pivot foot. You cannot move your pivot foot or lift it off of
the ground. If you do, this is called traveling.
Double dribble

You only get to dribble once in basketball. If you stop dribbling you have to pass it to
another player or shoot the ball. If you start dribbling again, this is called double
dribbling.

Three seconds

Offensive players are not allowed to stay in the free throw lane, or key, for more than
three seconds. Anytime they leave the key or the ball hits the rim, the three second
count starts over again.

Ten Seconds

The offensive team has 10 seconds to get the ball across half court. If it takes longer
than 10 seconds, then they will lose possession of the ball.

Over-and-back

Once the offensive team has gotten the ball over half court, they cannot go back into
the defender's half court with the ball. This is called over-and-back.

Carrying (palming)

Carrying, or palming, is like a double dribble. Players may not put the palm of their
hands under the ball or carry the ball in one hand for a long time. This is similar to
holding the ball and a double dribble.
Lane violations

During a free throw shot, players will line up on both sides of the lane. If they jump
into the lane prior to the shot, it will be called a lane violation. If it was an offensive
player, a made shot will not count. If it was a defensive player, a missed shot will not
count and the shooter will get another try.

Kicking

Players are not allowed to intentionally kick the ball. If a defensive player kicks the
ball, the offensive team will get it out of bounds.

Goaltending

Goaltending is when a player interferes with a shot when it is above the rim, but still
on its downward path to the basket, interferes with the ball while on the rim of the
basket, or touches the net or rim while the ball is being shot. If goaltending is called
on the defense, the shot is called good. If goaltending is on the offense, then the
shot does not count and the defense gets the ball.
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Out of bounds

The ball is considered out of bounds when it touches the ground outside the
lines of the court. The lines themselves are considered out of bounds as well.
It is also out of bounds if the ball touches a player who has any part of their
body touching the ground out of bounds.
How long is a basketball game?

Basketball games are played a set amount of time. It's different for different
leagues and levels of play:
4 10-minute quarters. With 2 mins break, I think.

 High School - High school basketball games are made up of four 8-minute
quarters or two 16-minute halves.
 College - NCAA college basketball games consist of two 20 minute halves.
This is the same for the WNBA and international games.
  NBA - NBA games are made up of four 12-minute quarters.

When does the clock run?

The clock runs whenever the ball is in play. The clock is stopped whenever
the ball goes out of bounds, a foul is called, free throws are being shot, and
during time outs. When the ball is inbound, the clock starts once a player
touches the ball.

In the NBA the clock stops after a made shot during the last two minutes of
the game and overtime. For college it stops during the last minute of the game
and overtime.

Overtime
If the game is tied after regulation time, there will be overtime. Overtime is 5 minutes
long in most leagues. Additional overtimes will be added until one team ends up on
top.

The Shot Clock

In order to speed up the game and to prevent teams from stalling, a shot clock was
added. This is how long you have to shoot the ball. If the ball changes possession or
hits the rim of the basket, the shot clock starts over. The length of the shot clock is
different for different basketball leagues:

 NCAA College Men - 35 seconds

 NCAA College Women - 30 seconds
 NBA - 24 seconds

Not all states have a shot clock for high school. Where they do, it generally
follows the NCAA rules.

Time outs

In order to give your team some rest, call a play, or just stop the game for a
while, teams can call a time out. There are different rules on time outs for
different leagues:

High School - Players on the floor or the coach can call a time out. There are
five time outs per game including three 60-second time outs and two 30-
second time outs.

NCAA College - There are a different number of time outs depending on

whether the game is on TV or not. This is because during a TV game there
are media time outs so the TV channel can show ads. For a TV game each
 team gets one 60-second time out and four 30-second time outs. For a non-
TV game each team has four 75-second and two 30-second time outs.

NBA - In the NBA each basketball team has six full time outs and one 20-
second time out per half. Only a player in the game can call a time out.

Equipment : The Ball

Professional leagues such as the NBA have very precise parameters for the official
basketball they use. This includes colour, material, size, air pressure, and bounce.
The main thing to know about the basketball is the size. There are different sizes for
different ages as well as for boys and for girls.

Standard Mens Basketball (Size 7) - This is the size used by the NCAA men, boys
high school, as well as the NBA. It has a circumference between 29.5 and 30 inches
and weighs between 20 and 22 ounces.

Standard Womens Basketball (Size 6) - This is the basketball used by NCAA

women, girls high school, and the WNBA. It is between 28.5 and 29 inches in
circumference and weighs 18-20 ounce
The Basket

The basket is made up of the backboard, rim, and net. The rim is 18 inches in
diameter. A regulation backboard is 72 inches wide by 48 inches tall, although you
will find backboards can vary in size.

The rim should be 10 feet from the ground. Typically a 10 foot rim is used from ages
6th grade and older. For younger kids you can lower the goal so that they can take a
proper shot at the goal. For kindergarten through second grade children you can try a
6-foot goal. Then move it up to 8 feet for 3rd and 4th grade. Try nine feet for 5th
grade. Of course, this depends on the size, strength, and skill of the player.

The basketball net hooks onto eight rungs on the bottom of the rim. It hangs down
around 15 to 18 inches. The net helps to slow the ball coming through the hoop and
also to help see whether a basket was made or not.

The Uniform
The basketball uniform generally consists of a tank top and shorts. You also need socks and
some good basketball type sneakers. Basketball sneakers are good for all the starting and
stopping required in the game. You can choose high tops, low tops, or three-quarter height
shoes. If you play under the basket a lot you may want high tops to help protect you from
getting a twisted ankle.

Basketball: The Court

Basketball courts vary in size depending on the gym and the level of play. However,
some features remain the same. The size and height of the basket, the distance from
the free throw line, etc.

Here is a picture of the dimensions and areas of the court used for high school
basketball:

Size of the Basketball Court

 NCAA college and NBA - 94 feet long by 50 feet wide

 High School - 84 feet long by 50 feet wide
 Junior High - 74 feet long by 42 feet wide

Three Point Arc

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The three point arc is a certain distance from the basket. Any shot made outside of
the arc is worth three points instead of the normal two. The distance from the basket
to the three point arc changes for different levels of basketball play:

 NBA - 23 feet 9 inches at the top, 22 feet at the sides

 Men's NCAA college - 20 feet 9 inches
 WNBA - 20 feet 6 inches
 High School and Women's NCAA college - 19 feet 9 inches

Free Throw Line

The free throw line is located 15 feet from the backboard. After certain types of fouls
or violations, players will be awarded a shot, or shots, from the free throw line.

The Free Throw Lane or Key

The area between the free throw line and the base line is called the "lane" or the
"key". How wide the key is depends on the level of play. It is 12 feet wide for college
and high school basketball, but 16 feet wide in the NBA.

Offensive players are only allowed to be in the lane for 3 seconds before a shot hits
the rim or they will get called for a three-second violation. Also, players line up on the
side of the free throw lane during free throws. They are not allowed to enter the lane
for a rebound until the shooter releases the shot.
The FIBA international free throw lane used to be trapezoidal shaped. This was
changed recently and now they use the NBA shaped lane.

Free Throw and Center Circle

The circle at the top of the key is used for jump balls on that end of the court. The
center circle is for the jump ball at the start of the game or jump balls at the center of
the court.

The Basket

The basket is located 4 feet out from the baseline. The rim should be 10 feet high.

Out of Bounds

The bounds of the basketball court are described by the sidelines, running the length
of the court, and the base lines (or end lines) at the end of the court.
 FIBA basketball court
The five traditional basketball player positions are:

Point guard: The point guard is the team leader and play caller on the basketball court. A
point guard needs good ball handling skills, passing skills as well as strong leadership and
decision making skills. Traditionally basketball point guards were small, fast players and this
is still often the case. However, Magic Johnson changed the way point guards were used.
He was a big 6-8 player that used his height and size to get great passing angles. Magic's
success has opened the door for all sorts of point guards. The key to a strong point guard
today is leadership, passing, and running the team.

Shooting guard: The shooting guard in basketball has the main responsibility of making
long outside shots including the three-point shot. The shooting guard also should be a good
passer and able to help the point guard with the ball handling. Shooting guards are often the
top scorer on a team. Perhaps the best shooting guard in the history of basketball was
Michael Jordan. Jordan could do it all, from scoring to defense to rebounding. It's this
versatility that makes a great shooting guard, but all shooting guards should be able to
extend the defense with their outside shot.
Small forward: Along with the shooting guard, the small forward is often the most versatile
player on the basketball team. They should be able to help with ball handling, make an
outside shot, and get rebounds. The small forward is often a great defensive player as well.
The combination of height and quickness can allow them to defend a number of positions
and take on the best scorer on the opposing team. On many teams today the small forward
and the shooting guard are almost the same position and are called "wing" players.
Power forward: The power forward on a basketball team is usually responsible for
rebounding and some scoring in the paint. A power forward should be big and strong and
able to clear out some space under the basket. Many great power forwards in the game
today do not score a lot of points, but lead their team in rebounds. Power forwards are often
good shot blockers as well.

Center: The center is usually the biggest or tallest member of the basketball team. In the
NBA, many centers are 7 feet tall or taller. The center can be a big scorer, but also needs to
be a strong rebounder and shot blocker. On many teams the center is the final line of
defense. Many of basketball's greatest players (Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem,
Shaq) have been centers. A strong center presence was long considered the only way to win
an NBA championship. In modern times, many teams have won with other great players
(Michael Jordan), but a strong center is still a prized basketball position on any basketball
team.
Bench: Although only 5 players play at a time on any basketball team, the bench is still very
important. Basketball is a fast paced game and players need to rest. A strong bench is key
to any basketball team's success. In most games at least 3 players from the bench will play
a significant amount of time.

Defensive Positions:

There are two main types of defensive basketball strategies: zone and man-to-man. In man-
to-man defence each player is responsible to cover one player on the other team. They
follow this player wherever they go on the court. In zone defence, players have certain
positions or areas of the court they cover. The guards usually play at the top of the key with
the forwards playing closer to the basket and on opposite sides. The centre usually plays in
the middle of the key. However, there are a wide variety of zone defences and combinations
of zone and man-to-man that basketball teams play. Teams will often switch defence.
The rules of basketball do not define any specific player positions. This is different from
many other major sports like football, baseball, and soccer where at least some players must
be in certain positions during the play of the game (the goalie in soccer, for example). So the
positions in basketball are more part of an overall strategy of the game. There are 5
traditional positions that most teams have in their offense and defensive schemes. Many
players today are interchangeable or can play many positions. Also, many teams have
rosters and players that allow them to try different set ups like a three guard offense, for
example.

Basketball: The Point Guard

 Source: US Navy

The Leader

The point guard is the leader on the floor. He/she takes the ball up the court and gets
the offense started. The point guard can score, but his main job is to distribute the
ball to the other players and get the rest of the team involved in the offense. Point
guards should be unselfish, smart, and good leaders.

Skills Needed

To be a good point guard you need to be an excellent dribbler and passer.

Quickness is important as well, so you can get the ball up the court as well as play
defence against the opposing team's point guard.

Dribbler: If you want to be a great point guard, the first thing to work on is your ball
handling. You need to be able to dribble with either hand, at full speed, with your
head up. You can't be looking down at the ball while dribbling because you need to
be ready to make that quick pass when a teammate is open.

Passing: A point guard must be able to pass the ball with accuracy. This includes
getting the ball into players posting up on the blocks, hitting the wing man for an
open shot, or a perfectly timed bounce pass on the fast break. You have to think
pass first, shoot second.

Quickness: Speed and quickness are great assets to the point guard. With speed
you can get up the court fast on a fast break. Pushing the ball off the dribble can put
pressure on the other team and get them on their heels. Quickness will allow you to
dribble around the defense and find open players.

Smarts: Point guards should be smart. They have to be the coach on the floor,
calling out plays and keeping the offense under control.

Important Statistics

Although statistics don't tell the whole story about the point guard, assists and
turnovers are generally important stats. Also important is the assist-to-turnover ratio.
This is how many assists the player has per how many turnovers. The higher the
number the better, showing that the player has many more assists than turnovers.

Top Point Guards of All Time

Some of the top NBA point guards of all time include:

 Magic Johnson (LA Lakers)

 John Stockton (Utah Jazz)
 Oscar Robinson (Milwaukee Bucks)
 Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
 Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
 Walt Frazier (New York Nicks)
Most people consider Magic Johnson to be the greatest point guard of all time. He
was 6'7" tall and redefined what a point guard was in the NBA.

Other names.

 Ball handler
 Play maker.
 General
 Quarterback

Basketball: The Shooting Guard

Source: US Navy

The Scorer

You can tell from the name that the shooting guard's main job is to shoot the ball.
This has become especially important since the three point line was added. Getting
scoring from the shooting guard is a key to a good offense. A strong shooting guard
can force the defense to play on the perimeter, opening up passing lanes to get the
ball inside.

Skills Needed

Shooting: The number one skill you need to be a good shooting guard is a pure
jump shot and the ability to make three pointers. You have to be able to sink open
shots consistently and be willing to take them when the game is on the line. If you
want to be a shooting guard you should shoot lots of jump shots, work on taking
shots with a quick release as well as taking shots directly after receiving a pass
without dribbling.
Move Without the Ball: Since the point guard will have the ball more, shooting
guards need to learn how to move without the ball. This means moving around the
court and working off of screens to get open.

Defense: A strong defense helps all players, but the shooting guard will likely be
playing the best shooter from the other team as well. A strong defense can shut
down their best player and give your team an advantage.
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Ball Handling: Although not the primary ball handler (that is the point guard), the
shooting guard still needs to be an excellent ball handler. Handling the ball well can
help when trying to get the ball up the court against the press. It can also help when
creating your own shot off of the dribble.

Important Statistics

Field goal percentage and points per game are the top stats for measuring the
performance of a shooting guard. Three point field goal percentage is important as
well. A well rounded shooting guard will also have decent assist and rebound stats,
too.

Top Shooting Guards of All Time

 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)

 Jerry West (LA Lakers)
 Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers)
 George Gervin (San Antonio Spurs)
 Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers)
 Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat)

Michael Jordan was not only the greatest shooting guard of all time, but also the best
basketball player of all time. This shows you how important a position the shooting
guard can be.

Other names

 Two-guard
 Off guard
 Wing
 asketball: The Small Forward
Sports >> Basketball >> Basketball Positions

The Jack of All Trades

The small forward does everything on the basketball court and needs to have a well-
rounded set of skills. You could call him a Jack of all trades. He handles the ball
some, rebounds, shoots from the outside, the inside, and plays defense on the
perimeter and inside.

Usually the middle player in height, the small forward is generally smaller than the
power forward and center, but taller than either of the guards.

Skills Needed

Well-rounded: The small forward needs to have a strong well-rounded basketball

skill set. They have to help out with the ball handling, grab rebounds, make an open
jumper, and mix it up inside on defense.
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Specialty: To be a great small forward you need to be good at everything, but also
great at something. Some small forwards excel as defensive stoppers, others at
shooting and scoring, while others are top rebounders. If you want to be a small
forward, work on the total basketball skill set, but pick one skill that you are really
good at and make it your personal specialty.

Important Statistics

The small forward needs to have decent stats in all areas. You should be getting
rebounds, assists, and scoring. If you are especially good in one area, it really helps,
but to be a strong small forward you will contribute in all aspects of the game. A
great stat to shoot for is the triple double. If you can get double figures in three stats,
you'll know you are doing an excellent job.

Top Small Forwards of All Time

 Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)

 Julius Erving "Dr. J" (Philadelphia 76ers)
 Elgin Baylor (LA Lakers)
 LeBron James (Miami Heat/Cleveland Cavaliers)

Other Names

 Swingman
 The "Three"
 Basketball: The Power Forward
The Bruiser

The power forward is often one of the most physical players on the court. Hence the
name "power" forward. They play close to the basket, fighting for rebounds and
posting up on offense. Power forwards should be tall, strong, and aggressive.

Skills Needed

Rebounding: The primary skill for a power forward in basketball is rebounding. If

you want to be a good power forward you should build up your strength and practice
rebounding, especially boxing out techniques. Being a good rebounder is also a
state of mind. You need to believe that every ball is yours. So having the right
attitude is important for the power forward.

Posting Up: Power forwards work mostly inside on offense. They play with their
"back to the basket". This means that they often have their backs to the basket,
facing the player with the ball. Defenders are usually behind them keeping them from
having an open lane to the basket. Power forwards need to post up. They muscle
their way in for position under the basket, receive the input pass, and then make a
post up move to shoot.

Jump Shot: Some power forwards also develop a jump shot. This helps keep the
defence honest. They can't just stay under the goal and wait for you if you can make
a 12–15-foot jump shot. This skill has helped many average power forwards become
great. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks has made himself into a premier NBA
power forward by having a nearly unstoppable jump shot.

Shot Blocking: Although not as important a skill as for centres, power forwards also
need to have some shot blocking ability. They are generally the second tallest player
on the court and need to keep the little guys from getting easy shots off inside the
lane.

Important Statistics

Rebounds per game (RPG) is usually the most important stat for the power forward.
It's their main job and if they are getting rebounds, then the team is likely suffering. In
some cases, the power forward is so strong in other areas, like scoring, that lower
rebounds are okay and the rest of the team must pick up the slack.

Top Power Forwards of All Time

 Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)

 Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
 Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
 Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)
 Charles Barkley (Philadelphia 76ers)
Other names for the Power Forward

 The Four-spot
 Strong Forward
 Enforcer

Basketball: The Centre

Lisa Leslie typically played the center position

Source: The White House

Height

The tallest player on the team is almost always the center. Height is important in basketball.
It helps you get off shots, block shots, and get rebounds. Of course other skills and attributes
are very important as well, but, as many coaches are fond of saying, "you can't teach
height". The center will play the closest to the basket and be playing against the other team's
tallest player.

Skills needed

Shot blocking: The center is generally the team's best shot blocker. Strong shot blocking
from the center is important to keep smaller players from coming into the lane to take easy
shots. If the center keeps blocking their shots, they will stay away and try more difficult shots
from the perimeter.

Rebounding: Although the power forward is often the main rebounder on a team, the center
is generally near the top of this statistic. The center plays right under the basket and has
many opportunities to rebound the ball. The center should be a strong rebounder.

Posting Up: On offense, centers play with their backs to the basket. They post up. This
means they establish position near the basket, receive a pass, and then make a move (like a
hook shot) to score. Many of the great scorers in basketball have been centers including the
all-time career scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the player with the most points ever
in a game Wilt Chamberlain.

Passing: Centers can help their team a lot by learning how to pass. Once a center has
proven he can score by posting up, they will often be double teamed. A center that can find
the open player when double teamed can help their team score.

Important Statistics

Blocked shots, rebounds, and scoring are all important for a center. A good center should
excel in at least one of these stats. You may want to focus on scoring, but consider that Bill
Russell of the Boston Celtics is considered to be one of the best shot blockers as well as
rebounders in the history of the NBA. He also led his team to 11 NBA championships.

Top Centers of all time

 Wilt Chamberlain (LA Lakers)

 Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (LA Lakers)
 Shaquille O'Neal (LA Lakers, Orlando Magic)
 Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)

Other names for the Center

 The Post
 The Five-spot
 The Big Man
 Basketball: Individual Drills
Sports >> Basketball

One of the great things about the sport of basketball is that you only need a hoop
and a ball to play. This holds true for practice as well. As a matter of fact, you can
work on your dribbling skills with just a ball and a place to dribble.

Dribbling Drills

Weak hand: Most players can dribble okay with their strong hand, but the great ball
handlers can dribble with either hand. Try dribbling using only your weak hand. It
won't be easy at first, but keep at it. Your weak hand will become stronger and soon
you will be able to use it in a game. You can do this by just dribbling around and only
using your weak hand.

Around the legs: Keep the ball low and dribble quickly around your legs and feet
while standing still. You can even do a figure eight around both legs. Be sure to
switch hands as you move to each side.

Cone drill: Set up cones (anything you can dribble around will work) in a line.
Dribble between the cones switching hands with a strong cross-over dibble at each
cone. Try dribbling fast on one pass and then keep the ball low on the next.

Speed drill: Work on dribbling at full speed. Dribble as fast as you can in one
direction. Try to keep your head up and not look at the ball. Use your right hand in
one direction and then your left on the way back. Time yourself to see if you are
improving.

Shooting Drills

Moving on out: Start around 5 feet from the basket. Take shots until you make 4 in
a row (you can change this to 3 or 5 depending on your skill level). Once you have
made 4 in a row, take a step back. Keep doing this until you reach the free throw
line. Now do the same drill from an angle on each side of the basket. Make shots by
banking the ball.

Four Points: Play this game to 4 points from different areas on the court. Pick a
spot, but start out fairly close to the basket. For each shot you swish you get 1 point.
For each you miss you lose 1 point. For shots made that aren't swishes, you get no
points. If it's too hard or easy, you can change the point systems slightly (only
subtract 1/2 point for each miss) or change where you are shooting from. Try this
from different areas on the court and see how far away you can play and still win.

Free Throws: See how many you can make out of 20 shots. Keep trying this and
see how you improve over time. Work on your follow through and concentration.

Shoot and rebound: Shoot the ball from one side of the basket. Then grab the
rebound and shoot from the other. Repeat this over until you've made 20 shots. See
how fast you can do this. Practice grabbing the rebound with authority.

Each NBA team has fifteen players. Twelve players are considered part of the active
roster and can dress out to play in a game. The other three are inactive or in reserve.
Five players play per team at a time. There aren't any special positions by rule in the
NBA. Positions are more through different roles played on the court as set up by the
coach.

How many NBA teams are there?

There are currently 30 teams in the NBA. The league is divided up into two
conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern
conference has three divisions called Atlantic, Central, and Southeast. The Western
conference also has three divisions, which are the Northwest, Pacific, and
Southwest. Each division has 5 teams.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic.

 Boston Celtics
 New Jersey Nets
 New York Knicks
 Philadelphia 76ers
 Toronto Raptors

Central

 Chicago Bulls
 Cleveland Cavaliers
 Detroit Pistons
 Indiana Pacers
 Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast

 Atlanta Hawks
 Charlotte Bobcats
 Miami Heat
 Orlando Magic
 Washington Wizards

Western Conference

Northwest

 Denver Nuggets
 Minnesota Timberwolves
  Oklahoma City Thunder
 Portland Trail Blazers
 Utah Jazz

Pacific

 Golden State Warriors

 Los Angeles Clippers
 Los Angeles Lakers
 Phoenix Suns
 Sacramento Kings

Southwest

 Dallas Mavericks
 Houston Rockets
 Memphis Grizzlies
 New Orleans Hornets
 San Antonio Spurs

Fun Facts about NBA Teams

 The most championships by an NBA team is 17 by the Boston Celtics (as of

2010).
 Los Angeles has two NBA teams and two NFL teams.
 The Chicago Bulls have won all 6 of the NBA championships they have
played.
 The Lakers' teams with Magic Johnson were called "show time".
 The San Antonio Spurs have the best all time winning percentage followed by
the Lakers and the Celtics (2021). Of the current teams, the Memphis
Grizzlies, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Los Angeles Clippers have
the worst records.
 The most points scored by a team in a game was 186 by the Detroit Pistons.
 The best record ever by a NBA team was 73-9 by the 2015-2016 Golden
State Warriors.