Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly consisting of five players each, compete against one another on a court that is rectangular in shape. The primary objective of the game is to shoot a basketball, which has a diameter of approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm), through the defender's hoop, which is a basket that is 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter and is mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court, while Field goals are for two points, unless they are scored from beyond the three-point line, in which case they are worth three points. After a foul, the game is stopped on the scoreboard, and the player who was fouled or who is assigned to shoot a technical foul is awarded one, two, or three free throws for one point each. The winner of the game is the team that finishes with the most points; however, if regular play comes to a close with the score still tied, there must be an extra session of play, which is known as overtime.

Players move the ball by either dribbling it while walking or running (which is referred to as "dribbling") or passing it to a teammate, both of which demand a high level of ability. On offence, players have access to a variety of shooting options, including the layup, the jump shot, and the dunk. On defence, players have the opportunity to steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots. Players on either offence or defence have the opportunity to collect a rebound, which is a missed shot that bounces from the rim or the backboard. It is a breach of the rules to carry the ball, elevate or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, or hold the ball with both hands before returning to dribbling the ball.

There are five different playing positions available to each team's five players. The player who is the tallest is typically the centre, the player who is second tallest and strongest is the power forward, the player who is slightly shorter but more agile is the small forward, and the players who are the shortest and best at handling the ball are the shooting guard and the point guard. The point guard is responsible for implementing the game plan of the coach by managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning). In a more relaxed setting, players may compete against one another in one-on-one, two-on-two, or three-on-three matches.

Basketball, which was first played for the first time in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States by a Canadian-American gym instructor named James Naismith, has grown to become one of the most popular and extensively followed games in the whole globe. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is often regarded as the most important professional basketball league on a global scale due to its dominant position in terms of fan base, player pay, depth of skill, and intensity of play. In regions of the world other than North America, only the best teams from each country's domestic league are allowed to compete in regional tournaments like the EuroLeague and the Basketball Champions League Americas. The FIBA Basketball Globe Cup and the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are the two most important international competitions for basketball. These competitions draw the best national teams from all around the world. Regional contests for national basketball teams are held on every continent, such as the EuroBasket and the FIBA AmeriCup.

Both the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament and the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup include the best national teams that have emerged through the various regional tournaments. The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the most important league in North America. The NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also very well attended. In Europe, the EuroLeague Women features the top teams.