Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, typically consisting of five players each, compete to score points by shooting a ball through the opposing team’s hoop or basket, which is elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular court with specific markings for different areas, including the three-point line and free-throw line.

Scoring can occur in various ways: a field goal made from inside the three-point line counts for two points, while a field goal made from beyond the three-point line scores three points. Free throws, awarded after certain fouls, are worth one point each.

The game emphasizes skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defensive tactics. It is played in quarters, with the team accumulating the most points by the end of the game declared the winner. Basketball is governed by a set of rules known as the official rules of basketball, which dictate the structure of the game, player and referee conduct, and scoring methods.

Basketball is popular worldwide, with professional leagues such as the NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States, and international competitions like the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Games.