Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court between two teams, usually consisting of five players each. The main goal of the game is to shoot a basketball through the opponent's defender's hoop, which is an 18-inch (46-cm) basket that is mounted 10 feet (3.048 meters) high to a backboard at each end of the court. The goal is to prevent the other team from shooting through their own hoop. Unless it is made from behind the three-point line, in which case it is for three points, a field goal is worth two. Following a foul, the player who was fouled or chosen to shoot a technical foul is awarded one, two, or three one-point free throws. The timed play then ends.
Players move the ball forward either passing it to a teammate or bouncing it while sprinting or strolling (dribbling), both of which need for a high level of ability. Players can employ a variety of shots on offense, such as layups, jump shots, and dunks; on defense, they can steal the ball from a player who is dribbling, intercept passes, or block shots; and they can collect rebounds, which are missed shots that rebound off the rim or backboard, for either the offense or the defense. It is against the rules to carry the ball, elevate or drag one's pivot foot when not dribbling, or hold the ball with both hands before dribbling again.
There are five playing positions that the five players on each side occupy. The tallest player is typically the center, followed by the power forward, who is slightly shorter but more agile, the small forward, who is slightly shorter but more agile, and the shooting guard and point guard, who are the best ball handlers and the shortest players overall. These players carry out the coach's game plan by directing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning). Players can play one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three informally.
Basketball was created in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith. Since then, it has grown to rank among the most well-liked and watched sports in the world.[1][2] In terms of skill, earnings, popularity, and level of competition, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the biggest professional basketball league in the world.[3][4] (getting the most of its skill from college hoops in the US). The best teams from national leagues earn spots in regional championships like the Basketball Champions League Americas and the EuroLeague, which are held outside of North America. The two biggest international basketball competitions, the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament and the FIBA Basketball World Cup, draw the best national teams from all around the world. Regional championships for national teams, such as EuroBasket, are held on each continent.
Featured in the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup are elite national teams from continental titles. The WNBA is the primary league in North America (the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also well followed), while the top European teams play in the EuroLeague Women.
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