As a Game Night Staffer, the Jazz’ communications department brief you on a lot
of things, including how to interview players/coaches, how to dress
appropriately and what things to look for in a box score.
But what they don’t teach you about is the language of basketball. Yes, there is
a language that comes with the game. The language is no different than that of French, Italian or Portuguese. At first, when I heard such terms as dime and money, I thought the players must be discussing important financial matters during the game. I was wrong. Below is a list of words from this language that I’ve dubbed “Basketballese”:
| Rock |
- the basketball |
Chip |
– a championship |
| Throw it down
|
- dunk the ball |
Kicks |
- shoes |
| Money |
- A shot that goes in the hoop,
or a player can be called money if he is the one that makes the shot |
Dagger
|
– a shot at the end
of the game that usually spells the end for an opponent (Robert
Horry has perfected this
shot) |
| Balla’
|
- a person who plays
basketball (and plays it well I should add). |
Trey |
- a three-pointer; adapted from the Spanish word for three, ”tres”. |
| Dime |
- an assist |
Clutch
|
– not part of a car,
rather a player who makes big plays is referred to as clutch. |
| On fire
|
- a person who is
making a lot of their shots |
J |
– an abbreviated name for a jumpshot. |
| Swat |
- a blocked shot
|
Posterize
|
- to embarrass someone with a jaw-dropping. |
| Cow hide globe hits home |
- the basketball just
went in the hoop (courtesy of Hot Rod Hundley) |
Burned |
- this
one means a player who has just got beat by another player badly |
| Brick |
- a shot that hits the
rim and bounces wildly off. |
Not in my house |
-please do not score
on my basket |
| Threads |
- referring to the
clothes that someone is wearing |
Yo Momma |
- A cordial way to
ask about one’s family |
| Holla back |
- Say hello when you have the
opportunity |
Have a question or comment for the Game Night Staff? Email the squad at
underthebleachers@utahjazz.com
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