Portal:Basketball

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Basketball 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. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. 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. 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.

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. 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. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. (Full article...)

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world.

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It changed its name to the National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after merging with the competing National Basketball League (NBL). In 1976, the NBA and the American Basketball Association (ABA) merged, adding four franchises to the NBA. The NBA's regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. The league's playoff tournament extends into June, culminating with the NBA Finals championship series. , NBA players are the world's best paid athletes by average annual salary per player. (Full article...)

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Image 1Streetball in Paris, France near the Eiffel Tower, 2005
Image 2A Mikasa basketball
Image 3Basketball court at the corner of Manchester Street and Lichfield Street, Christchurch, New Zealand
Image 4Carl English and Zoran Dragić competing in February 2013
Image 5LeBron James (USA, in white) attempts a shot against China's Yao Ming at the 2008 Olympics
Image 6Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, stands ready to shoot a free throw during a pre-season game against the Golden State Warriors in October 2005
Image 7Navy Midshipmen George O’Garro rounds Army Cadet Steve Stoll in an attempt to score during the Army Navy basketball game in Alumni Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, January 31, 2004
Image 8Daniel Clark and Luka Žorić competing in 2013
Image 9Michael Jordan playing in 1992

Image 9Michael Jordan playing in 1992
Image 10Image from the first pool tour of the Euroleague wheelchair basketball competition, 9 March 2012
Image 11The Laker Girls, an all-female National Basketball Association Cheerleading squad that supports the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team in home matches, performing in 2007
Image 12A Kenyan college basketball team practicing, 2016
Image 13A three-point field goal by Sara Giauro during the FIBA Europe Cup Women Finals, 2005 in Naples, Italy
Image 14Brice Johnson cuts down the nets after winning the 2016 ACC tournament with North Carolina

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Mikan in 1945

George Lawrence Mikan Jr. (/ˈmaɪkən/; June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Invariably playing with thick, round spectacles, the 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), 245 lb (111 kg) Mikan was one of the pioneers of professional basketball. Through his size and play, he redefined basketball as a game dominated in his day by "big men". His prolific rebounding, shot blocking, and ability to shoot over smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot all helped to change the game. He also utilized the underhanded free-throw shooting technique long before Rick Barry made it his signature shot.

Mikan had a highly successful playing career, winning seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships in nine seasons, an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy, and three scoring titles. He played in the first four NBA All-Star games and was a member of the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. Mikan was so dominant that he prompted several significant rule changes in the NBA, including the introduction of the goaltending rule, the widening of the foul lane—known as the "Mikan Rule"—and the creation of the shot clock. (Full article...)

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... that LaVon Mercer, who was homeless as a teenager, played in the Israeli Basketball Premier League for 14 years and was its 1980–81 season MVP?
... that among the U.S. women's high school basketball class of 2016, ESPNW ranked Crystal Dangerfield as the best point guard?
... that Anne Patzwald has worked as an occupational therapist at a clinic that employs three other current or former members of the German women's wheelchair basketball national team?
... that Jim Drucker, the founder of the world's largest online-only comic bookstore, was also the commissioner of both the Continental Basketball Association and the Arena Football League?
... that basketball player Zach Hankins helped Ferris State win its first Division II title in 2018, being named the tournament's most valuable player?

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The following are images from various basketball-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1A Spalding basketball from 1922 (from History of basketball)
Image 2A map of all NCAA Division II basketball teams (from College basketball)
Image 3An illustration of a basketball game that accompanied Naismith's article from The Triangle in 1892 listing his 13 rules. (from History of basketball)
Image 4Kawhi Leonard at the free throw line during Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals. (from Basketball court)
Image 5James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. (from History of basketball)
Image 6A map of all NCAA Division I basketball teams (from College basketball)
Image 7Most important terms related to the basketball court (from Rules of basketball)
Image 8Arctic Sisterhood women's basketball team in Nome Alaska circa 1908 (from Women's basketball)
Image 9Basketball match in Alginet, Land of Valencia, 1956. (from Women's basketball)
Image 10Israeli basketball player Yam Madar making a blind pass. (from Basketball moves)
Image 11A diagram of the relative positions of basketball officials in "three-person" mechanics. The lead official (L) is normally along the baseline of the court. The trail official (T) takes up a position approximately level with the top of the three-point line. The center official (C) stands across the court near the free-throw line. (from Official (basketball))
Image 12Most important terms related to the basketball court (from Basketball court)
Image 13Typewritten first draft of the rules of basketball by Naismith (from Rules of basketball)
Image 14Map of NAIA Division II basketball teams. (from College basketball)
Image 15Australia women's national basketball team on winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship (from Women's basketball)
Image 16The first basketball court: Springfield College (from History of basketball)
Image 17University of California-Berkeley women's basketball team, photographed in 1899 (from Women's basketball)
Image 18The home court of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. (from Basketball court)
Image 19A map of all NAIA Division I basketball teams. (from College basketball)
Image 20Freshman Women's Basketball Team - 1914 (from Women's basketball)
Image 21Initial jump at the match for the 3rd place in the FIBA Under-18 Women's Americas Championship Buenos Aires 2022 between Argentina and Brazil. (from Women's basketball)
Image 22Smith College's class of 1902 women's basketball team. (from Women's basketball)
Image 23NBA officials Monty McCutchen (center), Tom Washington (#49) and Brent Barnaky reviewing a play. (from Official (basketball))

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The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The club plays its home games at Kaseya Center, and has won three NBA championships.

The franchise began play in the 1988–89 season as an expansion team. After a period of mediocrity, the Heat gained relevance in the mid-1990s when Pat Riley became team president and head coach. Riley constructed the trades for Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, which propelled the team into playoff contention. Mourning and Hardaway led the Heat to four consecutive division titles prior to their departures in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The team also experienced success after drafting Dwyane Wade in 2003. (Full article...)

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v t e International men's basketball
FIBA National teams Olympics World Cup Universiade U-21 World Cup U-19 World Cup U-17 World Cup DBB U-18 Invitational TBF U-16 Invitational World Ranking
Africa	FIBA Africa – AfroBasket AfroCan U-18 U-16 African Games Basketball Africa League (BAL)
Americas	FIBA Americas – FIBA AmeriCup U-18 U-16 CBC Championship Centrobasket COCABA Championship Marchand Cup Pan American Games South American Championship Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA)
Asia	FIBA Asia – FIBA Asia Cup (includes Oceania) U-18 U-16 Asian Games FIBA Asia Challenge Basketball Champions League Asia Stanković Cup East Asian Championship East Asian Games SABA Championship SEABA Championship South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games West Asian Championship West Asian Games William Jones Cup ASEAN Basketball League
Europe	FIBA Europe – EuroBasket U-20 U-18 U-16 Acropolis Tournament Adecco Cup Belgrade Trophy FIBA European Championship for Small Countries Games of the Small States of Europe World Cup (Turkey) Basketball Champions League (BCL)
Oceania	FIBA Oceania – FIBA Oceania Championship (defunct) U-20 U-17 U-15 Pacific Games
Other tournaments	FIBA Intercontinental Cup Arab Basketball Championship Arab Games Commonwealth Games Diamond Ball FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Lusophone Games Mediterranean Games
Note: The Under-21 Championship is no longer held. Basketball portal

v t e International women's basketball
FIBA World Ranking Teams Olympics Youth World Cup U21 U19 U17 Universiade
Africa	AfroBasket Women U20 U18 U16
Americas	AmeriCup U20 U18 U16 Caribbean Championship U20 Centrobasket U17 Central American Championship U21 South American Championship 2nd tier U21 U17 U15
Asia	Asia Cup (includes Oceania) U20 U18 U16 Discovery Women's Basketball Invitational William Jones Cup
Europe	EuroBasket Women U-20 U-18 U-16 European Championship for Small Countries
Oceania	Oceania Championship (defunct) U17 U15 Melanesia Cup Polynesian Cup
Other tournaments	African Games Arab Championship Arab Games ASEAN University Games Asian Games Bolivarian Games Central Asian Games Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Games Commonwealth Games Mediterranean Games Micronesian Games European Games EYOF Games of the Small States of Europe Pacific Games Pan American Games Southeast Asian Games
Note: The Under-21 Championship is no longer held. • Basketball portal