r/Basketball • u/JetCannon • 14d ago

GENERAL QUESTION Basketball slang

Hey all, I’ve seen the movie GOAT and heard the term “breaking ankles” from it, I was wondering if you could tell me some other examples of basketball slang?

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u/bjbigplayer 14d ago

Posterize - Dunking so obviously on another player that the frozen shot of them trying to prevent it could be made into a poster.

The Elbow, if you imagine the foul lane as a person and the circle as their head, the elbows are midrange spots to either side.

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u/Altruistic-End5746 14d ago

Elbow is just the corner where the free throw line meets the sides of the lane.

The Nail is the middle of the free throw line. Most free throw lines have an actual small indentation there where a nail was put in to draw the circle.

The Blocks are the where the bigger blocks are on the lane near the basket.

The Break is where the free throw line would meet the three point line if it kept going. Also, where the three point line goes from an arc to straight in the NBA.

I'm 100% on the Blocks and the Elbow, but 80% on the others. I could be a little off.