Some Basics Every Basketball Expert Must Know 

Invented way back in 1891, the game has evolved significantly over its lifetime with rule changes, tactical shifts and the influence of modern analytics all shaping the game as it is today.

While the North American region remains the epicenter of basketball, the popularity of the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup has highlighted the global interest in the sport with countries as far flung as Greece, China and the Philippines all counting the sport among their favorites.  

Despite such popularity, the basic fundamentals of basketball can sometimes be lost in the excitement surrounding such an action-packed game. Let’s take a step back and look at some basics that you should know if you want to truly become a basketball expert.  

The Premise of the Game 

Basketball is a team game played on a rectangular court with a hoop at each end, with the hoop and backboard elevated ten feet above the ground. Played between two teams of five players, the basic objective of the game is to score points by successfully throwing the ball through the hoop while defending your own hoop to stop the opposition team scoring points.  

Once the offensive team puts the ball into play, they have ten seconds to move the ball over the mid court line. Failure to do so results in a turnover of the ball. The ball can be moved down the court either by passing to teammates or dribbling the ball. When defending, players can attempt to directly steal the ball from offensive players, contest shots or collect rebounds from unsuccessful shots.   

A successful shot from inside the three-point arc results in two points being awarded. If outside of this arc, then the basket is worth three points. In recent years, many professional teams have turned their focus onto maximizing their three-point success rate with modern analytics showing three-point shots possess better mathematical efficiency than two pointers. With recent NBA winners, Boston Celtics, possessing the highest three-point attempts per game, this is worth considering when playing your own game. 

If a player is fouled when attempting a shot, then they are awarded a free throw. This is an uncontested shot from the free throw line and is worth one point. Dependent on where the foul is made, either two or three free throws will be awarded.  

Game Duration  

One aspect to basketball that can be confusing is how long the game is played for and how the game is divided up. Across different professional levels like the NBA, NCAA and FIBA, the answers to these questions are slightly different. 

So, how long is a game? 

NBA games, which are widely accepted as the highest quality professional games, last for 48 minutes with a 15-minute break at half time. International basketball (FIBA) and college basketball (NCAA) matches last for a shorter time of 40 minutes, again with a 15-minute half time break. 

How many periods are in a basketball game? 

In the NBA, the game is split into four periods, each 12 minutes long. FIBA games are similarly split into four periods, albeit each quarter is only 10 minutes long. Contrastingly, NCAA basketball only has two periods, with the game composed of two halves of 20 minutes.  

Fouls and Violations  

There are a number of fouls and violations that a player can commit when playing basketball that can result in turnover of possession, an opposition free throw or even expulsion from the game. Here are some of the most important to know: 

• Travelling: if a player takes too many steps without bouncing the ball, the referee will call a travelling violation, and possession will be handed over.  

• Double dribble: if a player either bounces the ball with two hands instead of one or dribbles, stops and then continues dribbling, a double dribble violation will be called. Again, possession will be handed over.  

• Personal fouls: as a non-contact sport, any illegal physical contact will be called as a personal foul. This includes hitting, pushing, slapping or illegal blocking. Committing fouls will force handover of possession while accruing too many fouls as a team will result in a free throw for the opposition. 

• Technical fouls: these fouls can be committed by players or coaches and are regarding the manners of the game. Using obscene language, arguing with the ref and even dunking during warm-ups are all examples of technical fouls. The consequences of technical fouls can range from handover of possession to expulsion from the game. 

Player Positions 

Like in most team sports, basketball has several defined positions each with distinct roles and responsibilities on the court: 

• Point Guard: the playmaker of the team, responsible for running the team’s offence. The player that brings the ball up the court. 

• Shooting Guard: the team’s sharpshooter, their main role is to score points for the team and so should have excellent shooting abilities across the court.  

• Center: typically the tallest player, centers position themselves under both baskets, looking to score short range shots from rebounds while defending their own baskets by blocking shots and collecting rebounds.  

• Power Forward: another who plays close to the basket, these players should also have shot quality in the mid-range while possessing strong defensive skills.  

• Small Forward: often seen as the most versatile player on the team, small forwards should be highly athletic, able to contribute to offense and defense with equal measure and contribute points for the team.  

Whether you want to improve your skills as a player or become more knowledgeable when watching basketball on television, understanding these fundamentals is key.

Starting from these basics, the greater tactical complexities and in-game strategies involved with the sport will become more obvious. Crawl before you walk. By building on the information here, that first slam dunk might not be too far away.