The NBA has produced some of the most magical moments of basketball, captivating fans all around the world in the sport that is accessible and fun for everyone! Basketball has been around for well over a hundred years now, but it hasn't found quite the popularity that football has, for example. For this reason, it can be confusing for new people to understand exactly how the game is played and what they'll need. Well, worry not! We're here to show you everything that you'll need to get started with basketball and have the time of your life:
What You’re Supposed to do
The goal of the game is to throw the basketball into the opposing team's hoop, which gets you points based on the distance and type of shot you landed in it. Generally, teams will pass the ball around and try to score at all costs, with longer shots meaning more points (but harder to land) and short baskets giving comparatively fewer points. Like any sport, the team with the higher points at the end is crowned the winner of the match.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Let's get straight to the best part of basketball (for me, at least); the shoes. The feeling you get with getting a pair of Nike Kobe 9 Elites in the Moonwalker colorway, or maybe your favorite pair of Jordans, is just unbeatable for me and creates half the appeal of playing the game in the first place! That aside, basketball shoes are essential to make sure you can maneuver and position yourself around the court without slipping or hurting your ankles.
Apart from shoes, you'll need a basketball (of course) and a court with at least one hoop (which is enough for playing a half-court basketball game). Only five players at maximum can play at a time on the court, with seven players acting as substitutes. The positions are defined as follows:
- Point Guard
- Defensive Guard
- Center
- Offensive Forward
- Defensive Forward
The positions act as guidelines and are crucial for carrying out match strategy, but no player is prohibited from moving around freely on the court. The measurements of the court are roughly 90 feet long and 50 feet wide, with a center line and three-point arcs around the hoop of each team. These arcs define the limit outside which if you can score a basket, you are rewarded with 3 points, while baskets within the arc are scored as 2 points. There is also a marking called the 'key' within the arc, which is where free throws are taken from should a foul occur.
The time format of the game is split into four phases; quarters, each lasting 4 minutes. There is a half-time gap between the 2nd and 3rd quarters for the players to rest and strategize if needed. That wraps up our guide on getting started with basketball; we hope this has been helpful and that you have lots of fun with the game!