NBA Basketball Glossary
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Lane: The painted area between the end line and the free-throw line near each basket, outside which players line up for free throws. Also known as the key, because in the early years it was key-shaped. It was twice widened to its present rectangular shape.
Loose-ball foul: A foul committed while neither team has possession of the ball, as while going for a rebound.
Lottery: The process that determines the order of selection, among the non-playoff teams, in the first round of the draft.
Low post: The area at the base of the foul lane to either side of the basket.
Net: The cord, 15 to 18 inches long, that hangs from the rim of the basket.
Outlet pass: A pass thrown by a player after getting a rebound to a teammate, generally near midcourt, to start a fast break.
Over the limit: Beyond a given number of fouls. Each team is allowed four fouls per quarter for which no free throws are assessed (unless they are committed against players in the act of shooting ); after four fouls a team is said to be "over the limit" and free throws are assessed on all subsequent fouls.
Overtime: A five-minute extra period that is played when the game is tied after four quarters. If a game remains tied following an overtime period, another is played and another until there is a winner.
Palming: A violation in which a player moves his hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling. Also: carrying the ball.
Penalty situation: When a team has committed more than its allotted four fouls per quarter and thus each subsequent foul becomes a shooting foul. Also: Over the limit.
Personal foul: see Foul.
Pick: When an offensive player frees a teammate for a shot by establishing a stationary position that prevents a defensive player from guarding the shooter. If the player who is "setting a pick" is not stationary and contact is made with a defender, it is an offensive foul and his team loses possession of the ball. Also: screen.
Pick-and-roll: A play in which an offensive player sets a pick, then "rolls" toward the basket and takes a pass from a teammate for an open shot.
Pill: Ball.
Pivot: The area near the basket, generally where the center operates, or the act of changing directions, by keeping one foot planted on the ground while stepping in one or more directions with the other foot.
Post: see Low Post.
Player-control foul: An offensive foul that is committed not when a player is shooting, but just when his team is in control of the ball.
Point guard: Usually a team's primary ballhandler and the man who sets up the team's offense.
Power forward: The larger of a team's two forwards, whose duties generally involve rebounding as much as scoring.
Press: Guard very closely.
Pump fake: A fake in which a player motions as if he is going to shoot the ball but holds back, hoping his defender will jump out of position.
Quadruple-double: An extremely rare (it's only happened four times in NBA history) achievement in which a player accumulates doubles figures in four of the following categories in the same game: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.
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