The Basics of Basketball

Basketball is an enjoyable team sport where two teams, most often of five players each, against each other on a flat rectangular floor, fight for the primary goal of shooting the basketball off of the backboard of the opponent’s hoop and preventing the other team from doing the same by blocking their opponent’s rim shot. The game is played at a local court inside a large basketball arena or gymnasium and teams play for money. The game is generally referred to as pick up basketball because each team starts out with only five players. The game is usually won by whichever team scores the most points during the duration of the game. However, sometimes overtime can be played if both teams qualify.

The sport of basketball can be split into three major divisions, all of which are currently popular worldwide. Basketball America, Basketball European, and Basketball Association are the three main divisions of basketball. In basketball North American, the rules of the game are almost identical to that of the American football. The basket, called the “rebound” basket, is much smaller in diameter than that of the basketball court inside a basketball arena because the hoop is usually installed in front of the basket.

The three basketball championships around the world are the NBA (National Basketball League), the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball League) in the United States, and the European Basketball League. Many American players have played internationally and some of them have achieved considerable fame. Some notable Americans who have played basketball professionally include Clyde Drexler, Walt Frazier, Magic Johnson, Mike Miller, and Shaquille O’Neal. Although basketball has many different variations, one thing is for sure; whether you play basketball at a recreational level, a professional level, or even in the Olympics, basketball is an enjoyable sport to play.