The NBA Shooting Glossary

Shot. An attempt to score in a game.

It is amazing the number of different shots that a player can do in a NBA game. You just have to take a look at the game Play-by-Play analysis to see that. Anyway, the shots are described as follows:

• 3pt Shot. A three-point field goal, three-pointer, three-point shot, or simply three is a field goal made from beyond the three point line
• Alley oop. An alley oop is an offensive play in which one player throws the ball up near the basket to a teammate (or, much more rarely, to himself) who jumps, catches the ball in mid air and immediately scores a basket, usually with a slam dunk.
• Bank Shot. A shot that relies on the ball bouncing off backboard and into the basket. Other terms for a bankshot are "off the glass".
• Driving Layup Shot. A forceful layup shot. It comes from Drive (an aggressive move toward the basket with the ball)
• Dunk Shot. A shot made by jumping and slamming the ball down through the basket. Also called stuff shot.
• Field Goal. A score made by throwing the ball through the basket in regulation play, worth two points or, if attempted from beyond a specified distance, three points.
• Free Throw. A free throw is the privilege given a player to score one point by an unhindered attempt for the goal from a position directly behind the free throw line. This attempt must be made within 10 seconds
• Hook Shot. A shot made by arcing the far hand upward while being positioned or moving sideways to the basket.
• Jump Bank Shot. A bank shot done in a jump shot manner.
• Jump Hook Shot. A hook shot done in a jump shot manner.
• Jump Shot. A shot made by a player at the highest point of a jump. Also called jumper.
• Layup Shot. A lay-up shot is a field goal attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to tip the ball over the rim and into the basket (layin) or to bank it off the backboard and into the basket (layup).
• Running Jump Shot. A jump shot taken by a player while running. Also called running jumper
• Set shot. A two-handed basketball shot from a stationary position. It's the basic basketball shot
• Slam Dunk Shot. A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball through the basket with one or both of his hands, then often grabs the rim shortly after the ball passes through the hoop (a dunk is still being performed if the rim is not grabbed, as long as the athlete powers the ball through the hoop manually).
• Stuff shot. See dunk shot.
• Tip Shot. The ball is tapped or deflected into the basket by a player.