Know the game: what smart fans need to know about Basketball

Basketball, like any game, contains a varied number of tactics so that one team wins the game – meaning both offensive and defensive tactics are designed to accomplish specific goals, and each player is responsible for performing individual actions.

Basketball was invented by James Naismith, who used a peach basket as the original goal in the first game. This peach basket played a significant role in the early years of basketball, shaping the way the sport developed.

Basketball is where two opposing teams seek to outscore each other by shooting the ball into the basket. A basket could be worth 1, 2, or 3 points. The rules of basketball have evolved since the early years, including changes in how baskets are scored and how the game is played. The team with more points than the other at the end of the time permitted wins the game.

Basketball has four quarters consisting of 20 minutes each (after each quarter a short break is taken). The sport is played across multiple seasons at various levels, from amateur to professional leagues.

Should the two teams score the same amount of points, there is an additional five-minute “overtime” to determine who can score additional points. More “overtime” can be played until finally, one team scores more points and wins the game.

Introduction to basketball

Basketball is a dynamic and fast-paced sport played by two teams of five players each, competing to score the most points by shooting the ball through the opponent’s hoop. Each game is played on a rectangular court, with teams working together to outscore their rivals before the final buzzer. The sport is celebrated for its high energy, quick transitions, and thrilling moments, making every match a must-watch event.

At the professional level, the National Basketball Association (NBA) stands as the premier basketball league in the world. NBA games attract millions of fans, with the NBA Finals serving as the ultimate showdown to crown the season’s champion. The excitement of the NBA Finals draws not only passionate viewers but also bettors who analyse NBA odds and place wagers on their favourite teams. Beyond the NBA, basketball thrives at the college level, where college basketball teams compete in intense matchups and tournaments, and at high schools across the country, nurturing the next generation of talent.

Whether you’re following the league, tracking the score, or placing a bet, understanding the basics of how the game is played and how points are scored is essential for any fan. With its blend of athleticism, strategy, and teamwork, basketball remains one of the most popular and engaging sports worldwide.

History of basketball

The story of basketball began in 1891, when James Naismith, a physical education instructor in Springfield, Massachusetts, invented a new sport to keep his students active indoors during the winter. Using a soccer ball and two peach baskets as goals, Naismith created the first game of basketball, which quickly captured the imagination of players and spectators alike. The simplicity and excitement of the game led to its rapid spread to colleges and high schools, with the first intercollegiate game played just a few years later in 1895.

As basketball’s popularity soared, organisations like the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) played crucial roles in standardising the rules and promoting the sport across the United States. The NCAA Tournament, famously known as March Madness, has become a highlight of the college basketball season, drawing massive audiences and intense competition among colleges across the USA.

Internationally, the sport is governed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which oversees global competitions and ensures consistent rules for international basketball. Today, basketball is played in nearly every country, with tournaments and leagues at every level, from high schools to the NCAA and beyond. The game’s rich history, from its origins with peach baskets to its current global phenomenon, continues to inspire players and fans around the world.

Basketball team positions

Point guard – responsible for leading the team’s offensive plays, dribbling the ball out of defence and across the court, passing the ball to a player to shoot at the basket. Typically, point guards are smaller, yet faster players on the court with exceptional ball-handling skills.

Shooting guard – shooting guards generally are a little slower and a bit. Their goal is to take far-distance shots to score 3-pointers.

Small forward – the teams most versatile player, small forwards assist in scoring in collecting rebounds. They are also typically taller than both point and shooting guards.

Power forward – is usually one of the most influential players who play inside the 3-point line, receiving rebounds and score in the opposing team’s basket.

Centre – is usually the tallest player on the team, often among the tallest players in professional basketball. Centres serve as key defensive players, scoring close to the basket, blocking shots defensively and grabbing rebounds. Centres are the player who begins the game with the tip-off.

Player skills

Success in basketball requires a unique blend of athleticism, technical skill, and mental acuity. Basketball players must master a range of skills, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending, all while maintaining speed, agility, and endurance throughout the game. Each position on the court calls for a specific skill set: for example, the point guard is often the team’s primary ball handler, using quick moves and behind-the-back passes to navigate defences and set up plays.

Scoring is a central focus, with shooting guards specialising in jump shots and long-range attempts from beyond the three-point line. Defensive players, meanwhile, excel at man-to-man defence, using anticipation and quick footwork to guard their opponents and protect the basket. Teams have built their reputations on strong defensive play and the ability to capitalise on both taller players for rebounding and shot-blocking, and quicker, more agile players for fast breaks and perimeter defence.

While height can be a significant advantage—especially for rebounding and scoring near the basket—even shorter players can make a big impact with their speed, court vision, and creativity. The diversity of skills and playing styles among individual players is what makes every basketball game unpredictable and exciting, whether you’re watching the pros, college stars, or the next generation of talent.

Basketball offensive team tactics

A good offence must be resilient enough to react to changes in defensive strategy. Each player must ensure there is a certain amount of spacing between them, yet be careful to avoid defensive traps. The offensive team is responsible for creating scoring opportunities through coordinated movement and passing.

Early offences respond quickly to circumstances as they occur. Once a player from one team receives the ball, they attempt to move it up the court. The players without the ball respond by widening their presence around the court, creating lanes for where the player with the ball can move or pass to. Movement down the court should be rapid and fast, looking to score a basket at every opportunity.

When the defence is spread out across the court, it makes it tricky for a zone defence to arrange as the team drive to the hoop. Further man-to-man defence strategies can then be employed, allowing the team’s best players to break down the defence on an individual level.

Whether one team’s offensive strategies do not get close to the basket, they can help the attacking team get into better positions, allowing them to set up further attacks.

Basketball defence tactics

Defensively, a team has several options to deploy in basketball. The goal of the defence is simple: disrupt and break up the offensive plays in any way.

In the modern game, to have a successful basketball defence, there are three ways which teams can employ:

• Cause the attacking player to miss their shot, creating an opportunity for the defence to collect the rebound and begin an attack. The defending team typically has the advantage in securing defensive rebounds after a missed shot, allowing them to gain possession and control of the game.
• Disrupt the attacking team’s offensive play in a way that results in a ball turnover, thereby allowing the defence to transition into an attacking play.
• Stalling the offensive play to the point where they are unable to pass the ball for 5 seconds or cannot take a valid shot within the shot clock period.

Furthermore, each defensive strategy can be categorised three ways, each with their own pros and cons to consider:

Zone Defence

Zonal defence is where each player is responsible for defensively covering a ‘zone.’ For example, in the standard 2-3 zone, two players are positioned at the top of the key, guarding against any attacking player who ventures into their area.

Concurrently, the team’s remaining three players will position themselves along the baseline, guarding against the opposing team’s attacking plays.

Person-to-Person Defence

Also known as ‘man’ defence, this defence aims to match a specific defender to one particular attacking player. (Known as man-to-man marking in football).

Each player marks their assigned player throughout the game because the matches are made against a similar player in terms of ability and size.

Hybrid Defence

This defensive tactic incorporates elements of the other two defensive tactics simultaneously. A classic example of this tactic is where four players will take up assigned spots on the floor to guard a specific zone (zonal defence) with the other remaining team player guarding one offensive player from the opposing team at all times.

This defensive tactic is employed when one player on the opposing team is particularly exceptional at offence compared to their teammates.

Basketball terms and principal player actions

Like any game, there are specific jargon and terms you’ll need to learn to understand better the match being played. Here is a selection of the most common:

• Air Ball – When the ball has failed to make contact with either the net, rim or backboard once a shot has been taken.
• Assist – Similar to football, when the player who assisted in a goal-scoring opportunity. The same with basketball, when an attacking player passes the ball to another and who immediately scores a basket.
• Backboard – The rectangular piece of glass behind the basket is known as the backboard. The inner, coloured square, above the basket rim, is placed there to aid attacking players to judge their shots.
• Basket Interference – A violation that occurs when a player touches the ball while it is on or above the rim, or during its downward flight toward the basket. If committed by an offensive player, the basket is canceled; if by a defender, possession is awarded to the offense.
• Behind the Back Pass – An advanced passing technique where the player passes the ball behind their back to a teammate. This move can be effective for surprise but is considered risky and requires skill.
• Block – A defensive action when a defending player stops a shot occurring from an attacking player.
• Boxing Out – Is where defensive players use their body position to block offensive players from obtaining the ball after a rebound shot.
• Double Team – Where two defensive players are guarding one and the same player on the opposing team.
• Downward Flight – Refers to the trajectory of the ball as it is descending toward the basket, particularly relevant in goaltending and basket interference violations.
• Fast Break – A fast break is when after a defensive stop, the defence quickly turns to offence and the player concerned creates a quick break by passing to another teammate down the court, where there are either none or a few defenders in the way.
• Field Goal – Any basket scored during regular play, excluding free throws. Field goals are worth two or three points depending on the distance from which the shot is taken.
• Foul – Like most sports, a foul is where a player has broken the game rules. In basketball, when a foul is committed in the act of shooting, then the player fouled is permitted to take free throws from the foul line. Baskets not made whilst being fouled will add up to the number of free throws that a made shot would have likely scored. Meaning a 3-pointer would be given an additional free throw, getting 4 points instead.
• Foul Line – The line where free throws are taken from.
• Jump Shot – A shooting technique where the player jumps and releases the ball at the top of the jump. Jumping provides elevation and power, allowing the shooter to score over defenders and from greater distances.
• Jumping – The act of elevating off the ground, crucial for executing shots like the jump shot, slam dunk, or layup, and for gaining an advantage over defenders.
• Rebound – When a shot is made but missed, and the ball bounces back into play – this is known as a rebound. A player who collects the ball first is given credit for the rebound.
• Rules Violations – Infractions of the game’s rules, such as fouls, traveling, and technical fouls. These violations can result in penalties, free throws, or turnovers depending on the type and frequency.
• Travelling – Players are only permitted to take two steps while in possession of a held ball, any more they will be in violation of the rules.
• Turnover – Turnover is where the attacking team for some, reason, loses the ball to the defence.

How to bet on basketball: know the game

With this guide to basketball, you should have enough to get started watching and betting on your first basketball match. There is more to basketball than in this article, but if you master these basics you’ll be able to follow this tactical and fast court game.

Basketball is a high-scoring, momentum-driven sport where individual brilliance meets structured team play. Understanding how possessions, fouls, and scoring work allows you to follow the game with clarity—and make more informed betting decisions. Betting on basketball shares many similarities with betting on other sports, as markets like point spreads and moneyline bets are common across different competitions.

Popular basketball betting markets include:

• Match winner (moneyline) – Bet on which team will win.
• Point spread – A handicap market where favourites must win by a margin.
• Total points (over/under) – Wager on the combined score of both teams.
• Player props – Bet on individual performances like points, assists, or rebounds.
• Quarter/half betting – Focus on specific periods within the game.

Wagering on basketball includes a variety of bets, such as moneyline bets, spread bets, and over/under bets. Understanding these different types of bets and the associated odds is key to maximising your potential winnings.

Smart bettors consider:

• Team form – Recent performances and win streaks influence outcomes.
• Injuries and lineups – The absence of a key player can significantly shift the odds.
• Pace of play – Fast-paced teams often lead to higher scores and overs.
• Head-to-head history – Some teams consistently outperform others.
• Home-court advantage – Especially influential in leagues like the NBA and EuroLeague.

When developing betting strategies, remember that bettors can win money by placing successful bets on teams that have won their games, especially when backing underdogs or predicting straight-up winners.

Basketball odds can move quickly due to late injury updates or betting volume. Reading and comparing odds helps identify value before placing a wager.

If you’re new to basketball betting, consider using betting tipsters who specialise in the sport. Experienced bettors may benefit from arbitrage software to find the best prices across sportsbooks.

From major international tournaments to domestic leagues around the world, basketball offers dynamic action—and smart opportunities to bet. NBA betting odds are available year round, covering the pre-season, regular season, playoffs, and off-season events like the draft and free agency. You can also wager on championship outcomes, such as which team will win the NBA Finals or other league championships.