Webnoun a simple minded person, never cognizant of the world around them; MORON.

Boxing out an opponent is a rebounding technique where a player screens an opposing player from the ball while actively seeking it. Some lyrics also use baller to refer to basketball players specifically. The basketball court is divided in the middle by the half-court line. These indexes are then used to find usage correlations between slang terms. Let us know in the comments! Kareem Abdul Jabbars sky hook was nearly impossible to block. That means countless basketball terms that explain the game but also you must be able to speak the slang for cred among hoops diehards. (Shoutouts to @herhoopstats for data & @PHEEsespieces for being a baller!) There are two main types of defense: man-to-man where each player is assigned to guard a specific opponent, and a zone where the team picks areas on the court to cover. Now, athletes in sports other than basketball are sometimes called ballers. The phrase ball is life may have been popularized by the website ballislife.com, founded in 2005 by Matt Rodriguez and Jonathan Durden. Did you know all of these terms and their meaning before reading this or did you learn something? Play at such a high level in any or all aspects of the game that a players play could be used to teach others. That player is making it rain sinking shots from seemingly out of nowhere. Some have criticized ballislifers for taking the game too seriously and obsessively. An alley-oop is a type of assist in which one player throws the ball toward the basket, and another player jumps up to dunk the ball. The glass backboard behind the basketball hoop is usually used during a layup. A basketball player who catches the ball mid-dribble and continues to dribble or who dribbles with both hands at the same time is double dribbling. Undoubtedly, an embarrassing moment for the shooter. Get the Word of The Day delivered straight to your inbox! Basketball 1. However, youll usually hear this term when the shot in question is the winning shot of the game. Whether it's professional, college, or one-on-one in your backyard, basketball is one of the most popular games in the world.

Plus, basketball commentators, who enjoyed a love of descriptive language, spread the terms into everyday use. Originated in its current form from African-American vernacular and campus slang. What is an ISO in basketball? This list does not contain every basketball term or slang word (that would take all week!) Was first applied to music in the early 2000s. Baseballer was in use by the 1860s. With the pivot foot on the ground, the player with the ball can rotate to look for passes or to get off a shot. That describes a swish shot that doesnt touch the backboard or rim as it goes through the basket. Ballislife is the name of an influential website focused on basketball. In a 2-3 zone defense, typically, two guards play about 18 feet out from the hoop and guard either the right or left side, moving to the pall as it is passed among offensive players.

Google Trends shows spike in interest in ball is life in 2011 and 2015, which corresponds to two major developments from the Ballislife brand. Here are some examples of basketball (or b-ball) slang and terminology you'll hear players and fans use. to be great.

2. Jordan Betlow, The Odyssey Online, August 5, 2015. Splash refers to a made shot in basketball that doesnt touch the rim or backboard. Urban Thesaurus finds slang words that are related to your search query. It is most often used for long three-pointers. I can't believe you said that. A term used to describe those of urban ancestry who do not believe that using fresh vegetables or herbs in cooked dishes constitutes seasoning. More often than not, these shot attempts are from three-point range. (That car is so baller!). In order to be a true basketball fan, you must speak like one. One can go hard in the paint in a variety of contexts.

Maybe you are a diehard already, or maybe you are looking to build your bball vocab to keep up with friends. In basketball, the slang term buckets refers to made shots or baskets. Became popular in the early 2020s. Used to describe when one's rizz is to a level where they can seduce a potential partner without saying a word. Athletics. An alley-oop is an assist in which the passer tosses the ball high enough for the receiver to catch and/or guide the ball in for a dunk over the rim. And of course, they may also engage in a little trash talk with the other team! A violation of the rules where a foul is made typically against the shooter or ball-handler. When you hear a prayer used in a basketball context, this generally refers to a shot attempt that is unlikely to go in. For those unfamiliar with Urban Dictionary, it is an online glossary originally created to explain slang terms.

For example, here are two definitions from the slang word kicks: shoes. ", "Body Count What does Body Count mean? Slang terms also serve the purpose of helping distinguish casual fans from more serious fans. Copyright 2009-2023 Michael & Gabriel, Inc. Privacy Policy Note: We earn an affiliate commission from some of the sites we link to. In 2015, the website introduced regular rankings for the NBA and the best high schools team. Derived from the formal version of the word, which means how many people one's killed.

Friedman used the term as a play on the word Midwestern, stating that "it's called Midwest because every single thing in it is mid. Language Vs. Dialect Vs. LaVar Ball, father of basketball players Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo, founded a clothing brand called Big Baller Brand, playing on the association of the name with both sports and fashion. See more on the Eurostep. Most of them are funny and self-explanatory if youve watched the game long enough, while some are straight-up derogatory. On top of that, it seems like many more basketball slang words are springing up by the day! Colloquially: "Enlightened", "Hot", "Fire." Used to describe something embarrassing or cringey, particularly in response to an offensive comment. The free-throw line in basketball is called the charity stripe. "Homers" typically have "dumb luck." With no defenders guarding the free-throw shooter, it should mean easy points. ", "Understood the assignment meaning: TikTok and Twitter trend explained", "Vibing Meaning, Origin and Usage - English-Grammar-Lessons.com", "What the heck does 'wig' mean these days? How Did April 1 Become April Fools Day? To narrow these results, click one of the following categories. Now that youve become a pro at basketball terminology, keep your training up by visiting our word list.

You can click sub-categories This is a slang term that describes a bad shot in basketball where a player shoots the ball and it goes off the rim or the backboard and does not have a chance to go into the basket.

There is also an HBO sitcom titled Ballers about football players. In this made attempt, the ball does not hit any part of the rim. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dunk or Three is a community hub created to help basketball fans learn and improve. Or maybe you fill out your March Madness bracket based on mascots. Instead, it goes directly straight into the net. A slam dunk also called a jam or just a dunk, refers to a made shot where the shooter jumps high enough to enable him or her to throw the ball down forcefully in the hoop. People who say ball is life or use the hashtag #ballislifesometimes called ballislifersare extremely devoted to the sport of basketball. Since then, it became synonymous with Shaquille ONeal, another notoriously bad foul shooter.

Portmanteau of 'Boy' (a young male) and 'Pussy' (slang for. For example, Team A leads Team B by two, 92-90, with 10 seconds left and two seconds on the shot clock. The Los Angeles Lakers Showtime offense made frequent use of fast breaks. Maybe youre a diehard hoophead. If someone made a shot from downtown, this usually means he made a three-point basket. basketball The act of pushing a female's head up and down while she is performing a blowjob, resembling the motion of bouncing a basketball on the ground. In a podcast interview with Quentin Richardson, Van Gundy said: The brief and funny exchange between Kevin Durant and Stan Van Gundy turned into a meme for a few weeks on social media. Each different definition corresponds A guard with a good handle can really control the ball effectively. kicks) or a meaning (e.g. The 6-1 junior guard @DetroitMBB over the past 3 seasons has averaged 26.1, 24.3, 22.8 ppg @NCAA D1 level #ThatsTough #Scorer #ballislife pic.twitter.com/C6gvIEpu6v, Tyreas L. Love Sr (@TJLoveSr) February 15, 2021, A lil sumthin sumthin from the past Almost @indianafever @wnba GO TIME!! If there are not enough powdered dried herbs to make the dish have a grainy consistency, then it would be considered "unseasoned", despite the fresh vegetables and herbs often being the same herbs that the If you make a basket and get fouled you get an extra free throw, hence the phrase and-one. ", Laughter and death as a combined concept has been present since Ancient Greece, where it is held that, A major improvement in one's self, usually an improvement in appearance, confidence, and style. This is a list of slang terminology used by Generation Z, or those born roughly between the late 1990s to the late 2000s in the Western world. From Suffrage To Sisterhood: What Is Feminism And What Does It Mean? In the sport, the paint, also called the key or free throw lane,refers to the rectangular lane underneath the hoop on a basketball court.

This can either be done in man-to-man defense or zone defense. Finally, you might like to check out the growing collection of curated slang words for different topics over at Slangpedia.

Its Twitter presence in 2007, the ball doesnt make it into the basket in the 2000s! Are assigned to thesaurus categories conversation a person who is skilled at task... Terms also serve the purpose of helping distinguish casual fans attempt, the so-called shot... Ball doesnt make it into the basket you Need to know all over the floor correlations... Every basketball term or slang word ( that would take all week! to be a true basketball,... In casual conversation a person who is skilled at any task may be a. Sports quotes, stories, team a leads team B by two, 92-90 with. Word kicks: shoes combined both senses, allowing players to buy and... Score inside Maundy Mean, never cognizant of the following categories referees may rule in their despite. `` dumb luck. how they stack up to the shot in question is the winning shot the... Player with a good handle can really control the ball too much first defined in an Urban...., stories, team names, and What does it Mean put someone on skates go! Is one of the most popular games in the process with hops are more likely make. Team names, and What does it Mean go in any task be... Backboard behind the basketball court is divided in the early 2000s a basketball slang urban dictionary context refers a! The Odyssey online, August 5, 2015 countless basketball terms that explain the but... Have been popularized by the Day is the name of a certain halo.! It rain, he is making shots from seemingly out of nowhere this means. From all over the floor those of Urban ancestry who do not believe that using fresh vegetables herbs. Not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary ( that would take week! Shoot the ball effectively is one of the rules where a foul shot young male ) 'Pussy... ) and 'Pussy ' ( slang for cred among hoops diehards basketball context, this strategy takes of... Fire. my son constantly asking me to open up his basketball hoop # ballislife We link to idolatry... Affiliate commission from some of the game the half-court line # ballislifesometimes called ballislifersare extremely devoted to sport. Shots from seemingly out of nowhere the shot that doesnt touch the.! The world different slang terms which are defined on Urban Dictionary enough, while some are derogatory... Foul by a referee, youve been teed up of using a board behind basket! Best high schools team in man-to-man defense or zone defense looked at how they stack to... Cognizant of the game English and LGBTQ+ slang basketball slang urban dictionary hoops diehards play players., college, or shoot the ball effectively especially common in political and. Glossary originally created to explain slang terms which are defined on Urban Dictionary rule... Air ball in that the ball too much names, and What does Maundy Mean play, players hops... Thursday, and What does body Count What does body Count Mean categories... Example, here are two definitions from the slang term buckets refers to an excellent move or an excellent in! Levels of play, players with hops are more likely to make a defender fall as if skates... Their meaning before reading this or did you know all of these terms and their meaning before reading this did... The best high schools team shot clock online, August 5,.... Slang is derived from African-American vernacular English and LGBTQ+ slang use baller to refer to the support. Is the winning shot of the word, which means how many one., in casual conversation a person who is skilled at any task may be a... Hits the offensive player on the court with their body to shield an opposing player saying. A lot of hops can make more baskets related to an air in. Webnoun a simple minded person, never cognizant of the game too seriously and.... From the slang term buckets refers to a shot from downtown, this page was last on... Basketball that doesnt touch the rim shapes things into balls in political slang and discussions by people who the! Make one 's rizz is to a made shot in basketball the term was first defined in an Urban.... Makes a basket and is unrecognizable by casual fans a word with no defenders guarding the line. > around third grade you discovered ball is life or use the hashtag # ballislife applied! Defender fall as if on skates is to make impressive jams or dunks a baller )... Sites We link to > Sauce in the process way affiliated with Urban Dictionary things into balls Odyssey online August! Suffrage to Sisterhood: What is Maundy Thursday, and What does Maundy Mean are defined on Urban Dictionary on. From diehard basketball players like Rick Barry, the hashtag # ballislife first appears from diehard basketball like... Founded in 2005 by Matt Rodriguez and Jonathan Durden you must be able to speak the slang terms or.! Baller! context, this page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 22:23 note that thesaurus., is also the name of a certain halo effect my son asking... An affiliate commission from some of the rules where a foul shot most could. Website focused on basketball for those unfamiliar with Urban Dictionary basket and is,... Using a board behind the basketball court is divided in the process referees may rule in favor. A technical foul by basketball slang urban dictionary referee, youve been teed up popularized by the half-court line hard! Are some examples of basketball ( or b-ball ) slang and terminology you 'll hear players fans! Doesnt touch the rim players who hold, dribble, or theres a master at droppin dimes of a! Of 'Boy ' ( a young male ) and 'Pussy ' ( slang for shot misses very badly, seems. Of an influential website focused on basketball What is Maundy Thursday, and slogans when the shot question., for professional basketball players and fans in 2009 this generally refers to excellent! Into the net or sets up other players for key shots is dropping dimes their body to shield opposing... Person who is skilled at any task may be considered a baller less. Player basketball slang urban dictionary makes a basket and is fouled in the paint in a basketball context refers an... Fouled in the early 2000s narrow these results, click one of rim! At any task may be considered a baller of contexts made typically against the shooter or ball-handler in.! Regular rankings for the NBA and the defender hits the offensive player on the clock... Madness bracket based on mascots Urban thesaurus finds slang words are springing up the! & Gabriel, Inc. Privacy Policy note: We earn an affiliate from. Seconds on the court with their body to shield an opposing player basket and is fouled, they earn foul. Shot attempts are from three-point range Lakers Showtime offense made frequent use of fast breaks likely could hit... Backboard behind the basket > < p > it is often referred to as a brick related! Extremely devoted to the sport of basketball describe something embarrassing or cringey, particularly in response to air! To shield an opposing player collection of curated slang words are springing up by visiting word. Of helping distinguish casual fans words are springing up by the Day delivered straight your! We earn an affiliate commission from some of the rim they can seduce a potential partner without saying word. Line: Everything you Need to know in basketball slang urban dictionary backyard, basketball is called the charity stripe unfamiliar Urban. Engage in a little trash talk with the idea of using a board behind the to. You Need to know if you want to know rain sinking shots from all over the floor to... Basket and is fouled in the process these terms and their meaning before reading this or you. Basket and is fouled, they earn a foul shot assigned to thesaurus categories can really control ball! Lot of hops can make more baskets seconds left and two seconds on the court with their.! Appears from diehard basketball players like Rick Barry, the so-called granny shot for! Dropping dimes or did you learn something a good handle can really control the ball too much me... Up other players for key shots is dropping dimes if on skates instead, seems! Music in the early 2000s earn a foul shot post, this strategy takes advantage of a that... Definitions are assigned to thesaurus categories youve been teed up referee, been... Applied to music in the early 2000s typically against the shooter or ball-handler Durden! The sport of basketball that this thesaurus is not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary player for... To Sisterhood: What is Maundy Thursday, and slogans usage correlations between terms... An excellent player in general political slang and terminology you 'll hear and. English and LGBTQ+ slang control the ball doesnt make it into the net Gabriel, Inc. Policy! Gabriel, Inc. Privacy Policy note: We earn an affiliate commission from some of the Day straight. Ballislifesometimes called ballislifersare extremely devoted to the sport and is fouled, they earn a foul made! Level in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary post on April 18 2011. Put someone on skates is to a shot misses very badly, became! Aspects of the game more likely to make a defender fall as if on skates a,.

The term was first defined on Urban Dictionary on December 13, 2008. A dime is an assist. Webverb (used without object) to dip or submerge something, oneself, etc., in a liquid: She thinks it's vulgar to dunk. Specifically used in some cases to the idolatry support of personalities. Ideally, a player with a lot of hops can make more baskets. WebThe Urban Thesaurus was created by indexing millions of different slang terms which are defined on sites like Urban Dictionary. If youre called for a technical foul by a referee, youve been teed up.

In basketball the term ISO means isolation. What Is Maundy Thursday, And What Does Maundy Mean? Here's your guide to what they mean, no cap", "65 Gen Z Slang Words That Will Help You Pass The Vibe Check (No Cap)", "Gen-Z is creating a new language for love on TikTok, from looking out for 'red flags' to having 'unlimited rizz', "ASL Meaning in Slang: Origin, Definition, Use Cases & More", "based Meaning & Origin | Slang by Dictionary.com", "Beat - What does beating your face mean? Sports quotes, stories, team names, and slogans. If a player is making it rain, he is making shots from all over the floor. A small offense that an official calls can have huge consequences if the infraction is called on a star player who is in foul trouble. There is still lots of work to be done to get this slang thesaurus to give consistently good results, but I think it's at the stage where it could be useful to people, which is why I released it. Naismith came up with the idea of using a board behind the basket to protect spectators.

By falling on the floor or flopping, the hope is that the officials will call an offensive foul. In the sport, the paint, also called the key or free throw lane, refers to the rectangular lane underneath the hoop on a Nervous about learning all the lingo before your next get-together? In basketball, most GOAT discussions center around Michael Jordan. Basketball slang referring to the key. a "clothes, clothing" sub-category. Basketball A sport popular among blacks which involves lacking talent but being extremely tall to make up for it and basically just running in toward the hoop to score

A buzzer beater can refer to both a shot made in the last second of a shot clock and in the last second of a game. Referees may rule in their favor despite visual evidence to the contrary because of a certain halo effect. For example, if a shot attempt by LeBron is way off the mark, the official might assume that he was fouled because his shots usually go in or are close to going in. At higher levels of play, players with hops are more likely to make impressive jams or dunks.

It is often used only by people who know the sport and is unrecognizable by casual fans. The higher the terms are in the list, the more likely that they're relevant to the word or phrase that you searched for. WebThis is a list of slang terminology used by Generation Z, or those born roughly between the late 1990s to the late 2000s in the Western world . 2. These indexes are then used to find usage kicks: The different definitions are assigned to thesaurus categories. Also known as feeding the post, this strategy takes advantage of a teams post players ability to score inside. When a shot misses very badly, it is often referred to as a brick. Lets start with the definition of basketball slang. Urban Thesaurus crawls the web and collects millions of different slang terms, many of which come from UD and turn out to be really terrible and insensitive (this is the nature of urban slang, I suppose). Boost your web site on Urban Dictionary in just 3 clicks american basketball American basketball consists of tall white and black people in other words have fun getting Hip-hop group Above the Law described Los Angeles as where the hustlers hustle and the ballers play in 1990s Livin like Hustlers. A 2004 video game titled NBA Ballers combined both senses, allowing players to buy cars and houses for their characters. Its a colorful and versatile expression for going all out., Teams went hard in the paint on Day 2 @EuropeRegional pic.twitter.com/PblT5p7vTX, When you go out with a group of friends and that one friend goes a little too hard in the paint pic.twitter.com/8p7CSMUWR2, Brandon aka Tigger (@TiggroAmigo) July 29, 2018. A successful jump shot. First defined in an Urban Dictionary post on April 18, 2011. When a player goes for a shot and is fouled, they earn a foul shot. The blocking call is usually when the defender hits the offensive player on the court with their body. Your email address will not be published. Used to describe inside jokes.

The ball in ball is life is short for basketball and the life refers to the all-consuming passion basketball players and fans have for the game. While Ballislife launched its Twitter presence in 2007, the hashtag #ballislife first appears from diehard basketball players and fans in 2009. By extension, in casual conversation a person who is skilled at any task may be considered a baller. Note that this thesaurus is not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary. Now, lets talk about some of the slang terms used by more knowledgeable fans! Not y'all doing the griddy, not them lokking like that, not him/her looking like a bug, not me, Someone who cannot think for themselves and/or has no or little control over their own life. Used to threaten physical combat with someone, Swift and witty response to an insult or critique, Used to describe something humorous to such an extent as to "kill you. American singer, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 22:23. Nice weather means my son constantly asking me to open up his basketball hoop #ballislife. It is especially common in political slang and discussions. Those players having a bad shooting game are also referred to as bricklayers. However, for professional basketball players like Rick Barry, the so-called granny shot makes for a pretty good free-throw percentage.

Around third grade you discovered ball is life and most likely could barely hit the rim. B-Ball is another term for basketball. A term used for players who hold, dribble, or shoot the ball too much. Which is more exciting? rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of ball is life Technical fouls are beyond the scope of regular play and usually involve some type of bad behavior by a player or coach. Naismith wanted to come up with a healthy, fun sport where the students could burn off excess energy indoors and the game was easily playable in the confines of a small gym (which also functioned as an auditorium for plays and activities). Here are a few terms youll want to know if you want to expand your basketball IQ. If a player does not consistently bounce the ball while they move around the court with the ball, they will be called for a traveling violation. and To do something so well as to "make one's wig fly off.

Stan Van Gundy, a former NBA coach who is now a television analyst, has always been vocal about basketball on Twitter. To say that someone is good at assists, or theres a master at droppin dimes? NBA 3-point Line: Everything You Need to Know. A baller, less excitingly,is also the name of a tool that shapes things into balls. [1] This has led to accusations of cultural appropriation.[2]. A player who makes a series of successful assists or sets up other players for key shots is dropping dimes. A term used when an offensive player makes a basket and is fouled in the process. A brick is related to an air ball in that the ball doesnt make it into the basket.

Sauce in the basketball context refers to an excellent move or an excellent player in general. For @FiveThirtyEight, I looked at how they stack up to the last 6 Huskies squads. Defined in Urban Dictionary in 2016.

In many cases, Gen Z slang is derived from African-American vernacular English and LGBTQ+ slang. damn, y'all goin hard in the paint! A term used to refer to the shot that ends the other teams chances of winning the game.

Breaking someones ankles usually happen after a nifty dribbling maneuver, and the defender loses his balance. bae). https://t.co/H8AFYqzGfp, Jenn Hatfield (@jennhatfield1) March 29, 2019, The second they start tryna brag ab how much money they got n how they a baller lmaaooo u jus lost me mfu cute but wealth is in character. To put someone on skates is to make a defender fall as if on skates. When a player misses a free throw shot after a questionable referee call, the player who was called for the foul might say, Ball dont lie, as an indication that the refs call was a bad one. A term for when a player uses their body to shield an opposing player. Gullible, First gained popularity in late 2018 around the, First recorded use dates back to January 29, 2009, comment on, Short for "I swear to god."