
On offense, players may use a variety of shots – the layup, 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.

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. 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. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one, two or three one-point free throws. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. Part of the Summer Olympic program since 1936īasketball 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.

Yes, demonstrated in the 19 Summer Olympics

Indoor court (mainly) or outdoor court ( Streetball) NBA player LeBron James (far right) attempts a layup shot against the Brooklyn Netsĭecember 21, 1891 129 years ago ( ).
