Viral Scoop
general | August 24, 2026

Why is a missed basketball shot called a brick?

A brick in basketball is when a very poor shot attempt hits only the rim or the backboard and does not go in the net. The term refers to the basketball falling from the backboard or rim like a brick, since it was so poorly thrown toward the basket and falls quickly.

Why is it called brick in basketball?

Brick. You know," Driscoll explains. "Air balls (shots that don't hit the rim or backboard) and glass balls (shots that bounce off glass backboards like rockets). Around the league they call them 'bricks' because the ball falls like a brick after one of these shots."

What does it mean to brick a basketball shot?

Definition of bricks in basketball

A brick shot is a term that is used to describe a missed shot or miss flight of a basketball that occurs when an attempted shot goes off the rim or the backboard, and either does not allow the shot to reach the basket or an airborne object lands beyond the line of scrimmage.

What are bricks NBA?

A missed shot in basketball has many names. An airball is a shot that doesn't touch the basket or backboard, hence only hitting air. A rim rejection is when a player tries to slam one down but didn't jump quite high enough. A brick is typically a missed shot that hits the rim.

What is it called when a basketball player misses a shot?

Air ball: A badly missed shot that fails to hit the rim or backboard. Alley-oop: A pass that is received in mid-air and dunked or laid-up before the player touches the ground. Assist: A pass that, once received, is immediately shot and scored. Awarded to the player who passes the ball.

21 related questions found

What is it called when you dribble and your hand is underneath the basketball?

Carrying is a violation in the game of basketball. It occurs when the dribbling player continues to dribble after allowing the ball to come to rest in one or both hands and/or places hand underneath basketball.

What does airball mean in basketball?

US, basketball. : to completely miss the rim and backboard with a shot : to shoot an air ball Fesenko … badly airballed a free throw in the first quarter.—

Who has the most bricks in NBA history?

Here's the leaderboard, as it stands:

  • Kobe Bryant, 13,418 (and counting)
  • John Havlicek, 13,417.
  • Elvin Hayes, 13,296.
  • Karl Malone, 12,682.
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 12,470.
  • Michael Jordan, 12,345.

What's a NBA triple double?

When a player reaches a score of ten or more in at least three of these statistical categories in a game, he records a triple double (e.g. 10 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds).

What does throwing a brick mean?

The action of throwing a brick or bricks at someone; the use of bricks as missiles. Also figurative: the hurling of condemnations or insults.

What does green mean in basketball?

Green. When you shoot a perfect release. You yell green because you know your shot meter is going to light up green and the ball's going in.

What is a block out in basketball?

“Blocking Out” is simply establishing a position between the basket and the offensive player. It is important that the defensive player has made contact with their opponent, not simply standing in front of them.

What does 3 and D mean in basketball?

3-and-D. Any player, typically not a star, who specializes mainly in three-point shooting ("3") and defense ("D"). The term is most often used in the NBA, where this specific skill set has been increasingly valued in the 21st century.

What is it called when you make a basket in basketball?

"Field goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in their rule book, in their box scores and statistics, and in referees' rulings. The same term is also the official wording used by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and high school basketball.

What is brick slang for in drugs?

brick - Crack Cocaine; cocaine; marijuana; 1 kilogram of marijuana. brick gum - Heroin.

What is an NBA rebound?

A rebound is credited to a team when it gains possession of the ball after any missed shot that is not cleared by a single player (e.g., deflected out of bounds after the shot, blocked out of bounds, bounced directly off the rim out of bounds).

Is backboard an airball?

In basketball, an air ball is an unblocked shot that misses the basket, rim, net, and backboard entirely.

What is a ball called Coming off the backboard?

Bang the Boards: An aggressive rebound. Bank Shot: The ball bounces off the backboard and into the basket. Baselines: Also known as "end lines", the boundary lines extending across both ends of the court behind the baskets.

What is the line that cuts the court in half?

The mid court line divides the court in half. Offensively, once the ball crosses the Mid Court Line, it becomes a boundary line reducing the offensive playing area to just half of the court. Also, on most levels, the offensive team only has 8 to 10 seconds to advance the ball across the mid court line.

What does Wolf mean in basketball?

Whenever our point guard has the basketball and is advancing up court, and one of our team realizes that there is someone coming from behind, we'll yell “Wolf”, and that is his cue to switch hands, or to look around his shoulders to realize there is a guy coming who is ready to knock the ball away.