Basketball by the Numbers

You are an athlete and you love the game of basketball.  However, as you walk down your school corridor on the way to math class, you contemplate hiding in a locker, or coming down with an illness which you will recover from when geometry class ends.  Math can be difficult and frustrating, but as a basketball player, understanding numbers, and not only the ones on the back of jerseys, are key to understanding and mastering the game.  

1^st Quarter:

• Basketball hoops are 10 feet tall

• Professional and college courts sizes are 94 feet by 50 feet ( men and women)

• The basket is a steel rim 18 inches in diameter

• Professional and college backboards measure 6 feet by 3.5 feet

• The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches high and 2 feet wide

• Free throw lines are 15 feet from the basket

2nd Quarter:

Female 

• A professional women’s basketball is 28.5 inches in circumference and weighs 20 ounces

• The three-point line is 22 feet 1 3/4 inches in the WNBA and 20 feet 9 inches in the NCAA

• Shot clocks range from 30 seconds to 24 seconds in college and professional play

Male

• A professional men’s basketball is 29.5 inches in circumference and weighs 22 ounces 

• The three-point line in the NBA is 23 feet 9 inches and 20 feet 9 inches in the NCAA 

• The NBA shot clock is 24 seconds and the NCAA shot clock is 35 seconds (way too long in my opinion!)

3rd Quarter:

Basketball Slang in Numbers

Are you a parent or a newcomer to the game of basketball and hear all of these numbers being tossed around in the crowd while you are watching your child play, and feel like you are the one in math class?  Let me try and clear things up for you. 

During play, a team is allowed to have 5 players active on the court, and each player has a position name and number.  A point guard is referred to as a 1, a shooting guard is referred to as a 2, a small forward is referred to as a 3, a power forward is referred to as a 4, and a center is referred to as a 5.  Don’t worry if your child is a 5, it does not mean he is no good, it just means he is tall!

Impress your child by asking them what position they play, and don’t be afraid to ask their coach, “Hey, why are you playing my child at the 3?”

Ever hear of the term, “And One” and try to figure out what it means?  When a player drives to the basket, or takes a shot inside the 3 point line and scores, you will often hear the term, “And One.”  It simply means that the player made a two point shot and has the opportunity to go to the free throw line and add one more point to total 3 points.  Simply, two points, “And One.”

Please feel free to comment on your own basketball numerology slang as different phrases are imagined and used on playgrounds all across the world.  

4th Quarter:

If you haven’t noticed by now, numbers and math play a large role in the game of basketball. On offense, think about angles and where you can you use the backboard for a smooth shot.  On defense, remember how the court is designed and try and push the player with the ball against the sidelines and force them out of bounds.  Where you are rebounding, pay attention to how the ball bounces off the rim and predict where it might land.  The next time you feel bored in math class, remember how math is used to make the game of basketball function properly, and ponder how you can use it to your advantage.    

Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.  

A Basketball Journey

Not every athlete and every basketball player has the luxury of being the best player on the team.  Sometimes, even for very skilled athletes, things don’t come easy.  Your confidence might be lacking, or your coach might not have found a way to use you to the best of your abilities.  You could get cut from a team, you could be coming off the bench, or you could be sitting on the end of the bench and being used mostly as a practice player.  Being ready, being a professional, and being ready to perform when called upon is key.  One of the starters might be in foul trouble, or there might be an injury.  That’s why it is important to continue to practice and continue to stay in shape so you can display your talents when called upon.  

In a professional league like the NBA, sometimes it’s easy to forget that not all of the players are superstars.  Yes, the majority of NBA players have been stars at some point in their basketball careers, but in a league where the playing field is balanced, they might be struggling to find their spot on the team.

Below, we are going to examine some NBA journeymen and detail their struggles trying to find a team suits their talents and skills.  

Kevin Ollie - Kevin Ollie is currently serving as the Head Coach at UConn.   Sometimes finding your greatest strength as a basketball player doesn’t happen until after you stop playing.  Kevin Ollie played for 11 teams in 13 years.  Kevin had a difficult time staying with an organization, but 

teams kept bringing him in because of his character and leadership skills which he is now implanting as a coach.  

Drew Gooden - Drew Gooden was a lottery pick who has played for 9 teams in 8 years.  He is a skilled big man who can shoot and rebound, but was never able to find a home.  Drew Gooden was recently signed to a young Washington Wizards roster who is in desperate need of veteran leadership.  Though Drew Gooden has played on so many teams, you have to admire how he has been able to learn so many different systems and be effective in each role.   

Darrell Armstrong - Darrell Armstrong has played in about every basketball league in the world including the CBA, USBL, GBA, and various leagues in Spain and Cyprus.  Darrell Armstrong was constantly told that he wasn’t quite good enough to make it in the NBA.  Darrell Armstrong stuck with it and kept working hard, and was eventually was signed by the Orlando Magic where he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 1999.

These three players might not be rooted for like some of the stars in the NBA, and not too many fans might have purchased their jerseys over the years, but they should not be forgotten about or overlooked as individuals who believed in themselves at times when no one else would.  Their journeys show that there are a variety of different roles that you can fill on a basketball team and should remind young athletes to always be positive, be patient, and be ready.  

 
 
Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.  

The Shot That Is Free

The free throw line stands 15 feet from the basket.  It’s a psychological shot that has perplexed some of the best players in the game of basketball.  How can someone hit a shot while they are contorting their body with a hand in their face, and then struggle with a shot that is not defended?  When you go to the free throw line, the game stops, your heart stops.  Players come to a stand-still after running at full speed.  The eyes of every single fan in the gym are focused on you.  They expect you to make them.

Becoming a great free throw shooter starts with repetition.  No basketball player’s free throw shot is exactly the same, and we all have own little nuances.   The most important thing to remember is to do the same routine every time you step to the line.  Creating your own routine that works for you usually comes from time spent alone practicing at the park or in the gym.  There are some NBA players over the years who have had some of the most unique routines in recent history. 

Jason Kidd would blow a kiss to his child when he went to the line.  Karl Malone would murmur a phrase as he entered into his rhythm.  Richard Hamilton would bounce the ball in front of him and then take one bounce off to the side.  Jerry Stackhouse would almost sit on the ground before he took his shot!  Jeff Hornacek would touch his face to let his kids at home know he was thinking of them.  Steve Smith would tap a tattoo of his deceased mother on his arm.   Alonzo Mourning would rub his face with his sweatband in the same motion.   The charismatic Gilbert Arenas would loop the ball around his back multiple times.  In the old days, Rick Barry would even shoot underhand!
Check out this video below of some unique routines:

Below is a list of the top 20 statistical free throw % shooters in the history of the NBA.  Google some of their releases and routines and try to notice some of the same principles they all follow:

Members of the Hall of Fame are marked with an asterisk (*)

1.	Steve Nash	.9043
2.	Mark Price	.9039
3.	Peja Stojakovic	.8948
4.	Chauncey Billups	.8940
5.	Ray Allen	.8939
6.	Rick Barry*	.8931
7.	Calvin Murphy*	.8916
8.	Scott Skiles	.8891
9.	Reggie Miller*	.8877
10.	Larry Bird*	.8857
11.	Bill Sharman*	.8831
12.	Kevin Durant	.8818
13.	Dirk Nowitzki	.8785
14.	Jeff Hornacek	.8770
15.	Earl Boykins	.8758
16.	Ricky Pierce	.8755
17.	Terrell Brandon	.8732
18.	Bill Keller	.8723
19.	Kiki Vandeweghe	.8717
20.	Darrell Armstrong	.8714

One thing to keep in mind, is that when you go the free throw line, relax!  Take a deep breath, or two, or three.  Try and blackout trash taking fans, opposing players, and coaches along with the pressure.  Imagine yourself back on the line alone in the park.  Relax.  Conduct your routine.  Bend your knees.  Stay aligned with the hoop.  Release.  Free throws are an often neglected part of basketball, but you never know when you will get fouled in the late stages of a game, and when you will calmly need to go the line and sink the shots which could help your team be victorious.    
 

Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.  

 

What Basketball Taught Me

I spent many summers as a young boy playing baseball as it was the first sport I fell in love with. 

I was introduced to baseball from playing stickball at the local playgrounds.  For those of you who have never experienced stickball, there are different ways to play with different rules, but it is one of the coolest games ever invented!

There are many captivating things that come along with playing stickball, like acquiring a bat.  Acquiring a bat usually consisted of stealing a broom from your parents, cutting off the bottom, and covering both ends with duct tape.   Playing stickball in the city usually meant that you played in confined spaces surrounded by houses, cars, and random walking people.  As a young person, there was nothing like the adrenaline rush that came from smacking a monster shot over a large fence and hitting the window of a house, and of course getting extra points for breaking it. 
As I grew older, I became bored with organized baseball, and the speed and athletic ability which existed in basketball began to intrigue me.  
There was a kid who lived behind me, his name was Kenny, and he was considered the best basketball player in the neighborhood, even by the older kids who didn't know anything about sports.  He was a few years older than me, so when I finally reached the age where it was acceptable by young people laws to hang out with him, he introduced me to the game of basketball. 

The summer of 1992 was all about basketball.  The Dream Team was assembled and began putting on a show for the rest of the world.  The Chicago Bulls were on the verge of becoming a dynasty and Michael Jordan was everywhere  in the mainstream media.  Here in Boston, the Celtics had a rising star in Reggie Lewis as the Larry Bird Era was coming to an end.  There were also these cool new videogame systems like Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, and they had these awesome basketball games like NBA Jam and NBA Live. 

 

 

Basketball just seemed like the thing to do, but I was terrible at it!


I lived directly across the street from an amazing single rim, rusty, one hoop court at Lexington Park.  My second floor bedroom window had a direct view of the court.  I could see whenever Kenny was there (this was before cell phones people!) and I could hear him bouncing the ball and I remember my heart starting to beat faster as the sound would get closer and closer. 
I had just finished 6th grade and my body was mush, like a human 5'3" statue of Jell-o.   I didn't have any power, strength or coordination to me at all.  My jump shot did not have any jump.  I didn't leave the ground at all and while the ball started off in two hands, my shot consisted of me hurling the ball up to the rim, kind of like when I threw from the outfield to the infield.  I was pretty bad.
My friend Kenny taught me how to be good at something.  Basketball taught me how to be good at something.  I knew how good he was and I observed how he practiced.  Kenny and I spent countless hours on the court practicing in the rain, snow, heat, it didn't matter.  It was like a full-time job.  We would wake up early in the morning and see everyone going to work.  We would stay until our stomachs started making weird noises, or until the afternoon sun got too brutal.  We would play a little NBA Jam, watch Bird, Jordan, and Magic in the Olympics, and we would be back out on the court deep into the night until one of the neighbors got sick of listening to the ball echo against their bedroom walls.   
As the days went on, my body, and my mind went through a remarkable transformation.  I dropped weight, gained muscle, learned how to have a pretty shot, and actually gained some pretty decent jumping ability.  I also gained confidence, purpose, and a sense of identity.  I knew who I was and I knew what I wanted to become.  No one was going to sidetrack or influence me to get into destructive behavior. 
By the time 7th grade came along, I was a different person and I will never forget the steps it took to inject change into my world.  I realized that no matter how bad I was at something, that if I wanted it bad enough, I could become better.  Even in the present day, I still use those same principles I learned as a young boy in my personal and professional life.  I feel as though there is nothing out there in the world that I can't learn and become successful at, and that, is what basketball taught me. 

 Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.  

Basketball Never Stops

NBA Summer League

The 2013-2014 NBA Season recently ended and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.   Basketball is supposed to be done for the summer, right?  Wrong.
Personally, I greatly enjoy watching NBA Summer League.  The Orlando Summer League just concluded with the Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the final.  The second edition of the NBA Summer League is currently underway in Las Vegas.
Not too many people travel to Las Vegas for basketball, but I have in the past and really enjoyed the intimate atmosphere where players, coaches, and executives can be sitting directly next to you.  NBA Summer League is like one giant audition for players, coaches, and officials.  Where else can you see Mark Cuban getting interviewed about Shark Tank on one end of the court, while on the other end, Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher (who is trying to impress as a coach) talk about what philosophical book they are going to make their players read this season?
Yes, the games can be sloppy at times as players are plucked from all over the world and placed on a team.  It shows the less glamorous side of professional athletes and the personal and professional sacrifices which have to be made in order to live out a dream. 
The games might not count as much when it comes to historical documentation, but don’t tell that to the journeymen have played basketball all around the world trying to make it onto an NBA roster.  Don’t  tell that to the draft picks who are hoping to cement minutes within their new team’s rotation, and don’t tell that to the NBA veterans who are trying to make it back onto a roster.  Particularly Brian Cook, who was on Orlando’s Summer League roster.  Brian Cook has been out of the NBA for two years to help take care of his wife as she battled cancer. 
To read a very interesting article about Brian Cook and his journey, please click on the link below:

Brian Cook
 
Summer League is also a way to discover players who are likely to have break-out seasons, and players who you will come to follow and support throughout the season because you admire and relate to their stories.  Trying to get an upper-hand in your fantasy basketball league?  Then you would know that Tim Hardaway Jr. of the New York Knicks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of the Detroit Pistons, James Ennis of the Miami Heat, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (“The Greek Freak”) are players who should be on your radar. 
The NBA Summer League is in full swing right now in Las Vegas, so make sure you check it out on NBA TV, through the NBA Summer League App, or by convincing your parents to take you on vacation to Las Vegas.    

WNBA

The WNBA, which is considered to be the most successful women’s professional sports league in history,  is currently in its 18th season.  Rookie Shoni Schimmel has this year’s top selling jersey and Skylar Diggins comes in second on the list. 
If you haven’t been watching WNBA games lately, check out Brittney Griner’s recent dunk!

 
The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Football isn’t the only sport having a big tournament this summer.  Though it’s nowhere near as popular at the moment, The World Cup of Basketball is taking place in Spain from August 30th to September 14th.  Make sure to check it out and try and notice the different international rules!
 
Oh, and if you haven’t heard, this year’s NBA Free Agency has been crazy as some guy named LeBron James switched teams. 

 
Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.  

Basketball Summer Reading

Whether you are reading for pleasure, or trying to fulfill the requirements of a summer reading list, there are a host of great basketball books that are sure to keep you turning the pages.

Qaddafi’s Point Guard by Alex Owumi is a memoir published in 2013 that does an amazing job of bridging basketball and real world problems.  Alex emigrated to the United States from Nigeria as a young boy and landed in Boston, MA.  The narrative jumps around from Alex’s younger days as an emerging athlete struggling to figure out sports and adolescence, to when he is playing professional basketball in Libya.  Young athletes in high school will find this book informative as Alex struggles to select the right college as a student athlete.  His mistakes are well documented along the way and gives insight to a young athlete’s thought process.  It’s also very cool to read about familiar landmarks in Boston as much of the book details Alex’s experience living in the Boston area.  Alex follows his dream to Libya to play professional basketball and finds himself in the middle of war and tragedy.  This book is a good reminder that when we find something we are passionate about in life, it’s important that we don’t give up on it, no matter how bleak and blurry the dream appears.

Another great basketball book to check out is Game by Walter Dean Myers. Game is a fictional book which tells the story of Drew, a high school basketball player in Harlem who has to adjust his game and his life when a European player joins the team and takes away some of his spotlight.  The best moments in the book are when Drew and his new teammate bring one another into their cultural worlds.

Other great basketball books to check out are:

The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carrol (It’s also a movie!)

Fall River Dreams by Bill Reynolds

Heaven Is A Playground by Rick Telander

The Last Shot by Darcy Frey

The Jump: Sebastian Telfair and the High Stakes Business of High School Basketball by Ian O’Connor

Remember, reading shouldn’t be something you feel like you have to do.  Try to find books that inspire you and books that you can relate to.  Reading helps so you can learn about the experiences of others and learn about different cultures.  Reading is also something which is relaxing and something which can help you focus before a game.  Lebron James frequently reads before big games to help relieve some of the stress that comes from having to perform at a high level on a regular basis.  Also, as you read some of these books about the game of basketball, think about journaling during your upcoming season.  You never know when your team is going to have a magical year.  Wouldn’t it be cool to document some of the experiences so others can read about you and your team’s journey?

Feel free to comment with some of your favorite basketball related reading material so we can all add them to our summer reading lists!

Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball. 

Sun, Sweat, and Skills

 

A long season and a long school year has just recently concluded.  It is summer, and along with commitments to work, family, and friends, basketball will also play a large role in your summer plans.  Playing your fair share of actual basketball games either indoors or on the playgrounds to keep your game in rhythm is important.  However, what a lot of basketball players forget to do during the summer is work on and develop their game in unique ways which will better prepare them for a successful season.  Many of the top players in the NBA use the summer to add new moves and new exercise routines to their arsenals.

An alternative exercise which helps with flexibility and mobility is yoga.  Working on specific aspects of your game are also important.  Ball-handling drills can help when the opposition is putting pressure on you while dribbling up-court.  Shooting drills while taking thousands of shots from different areas and angles on the court will build confidence and help make you a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor.  Improving the overall strength on your body is important to not get stripped while driving down the lane, as well as being able to accept contact and complete a 3-point-play.
How about changing the mechanics of your shooting stroke?  It’s not a good idea to adjust your shot during the season as you will lack confidence in your shot and undoubtedly go through a shooting slump.  Maybe you need to add a new routine for when you shoot free throws?  Maybe you have a hitch in your shot that is always making you miss in a certain direction?  The summer is the time to take countless shots, by yourself, in order to gain confidence in your shot for the season.  When you get the ball in a crucial situation you don’t want to think about the mechanics of your shot, you want to catch and shoot in a natural motion and have confidence from the practice you put in during the summer, and not even think twice about letting it fly.
How about endurance?  The summer is a great time to really improve your conditioning to gain an edge during the season.  Many basketball players have told stories about jogging on the beach in order to gain increased jumping ability.  Be careful not to run during afternoon hours in the summer heat, but early morning and late night jogs can be a refreshing way to start or end your day and clear your mind.  Remember that having a mental advantage can also be a factor when competing, so try and stay in a positive space and balance your life with positive people as much as you can so you can stay motivated to exercise, work hard and improve both as a basketball player, and as a person.
This summer, don’t stress over how many teams you can beat, or for bragging rights on the playground, worry about taking care of the areas of your game which are often overlooked so when you are in the game during the season, you can succeed and know it was because of the work you put in during the summer.

Contributing writer Jasen Sousa for Premier Hoops is the author of a number of poetry and fiction books for young people.  Jasen has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and is a life-long participant and fan of the game of basketball.