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Streetball

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Streetball is an urban form of basketball, played in playgrounds and imitated in gymnasiums across the world. It has been prominently featured as part of the AND1 company's heralded "Mix Tape Tour" across America which has vastly popularized the game with extensive media coverage.

Contents

Rules and Features

While the rules of Streetball are essentially/theoretically the same as normal basketball, Streetball places a higher emphasis on one-on-one matchups between the offense and defender. Often the attacker will perform numerous flashy moves while attempting to drive to the basket, including crossovers, jab steps, and other fake-out tricks. Streetball often features spectacular dunks and alley oops, impressive ball handling, and trash talking.

Certain rule violations in traditional basketball, such as carrying, do not apply in Streetball. Style is often the determining factor in what is and is not legal in a Streetball game - if it looks good, it's not against the rules. In this sense, Streetball is as much performance art as it is an athletic contest.

A common feature to Streetball is the 'pick up game'. To participate in most Streetball games across the world one simply go to an outdoor court where people are playing, indicate a wish to participate, and once all the players who were at the court before you have played you will get to pick your team out of the players available and play a game. Many games (particularly in Europe) play up to 7,10 or 11 points with all baskets counting as one point (sometimes shots beyond thee 3 point arc count as 2 points). Ballers often play 'win by 2' which, similar to tennis means, the team has to win by a margin of at least 2 clear points. The most common streetball game is 3 on 3 played half court though often 5 on 5 full court can be found.

Streetball Slang

Slang Definition
in your face To shoot with a defender close up
crossed For the defender defeated by a cross over
jam, slam Dunk
Alley A shot made in the air from a pass
no look A pass made without looking in the direction of the person being passed to
stuff, swat, rejection When an opposing player's shot is blocked
screen To block a player with your body in order to free up a teammate
rainmaker A made shot, usually from long range
ankle breaker A crossover so vicious that the defensive player slips or falls down

Prominent AND1 Streetballers

AND1 has a team of Streetballers that perform in various "Mix Tape" tours across America and around the world. 
And 1 Street Ballers no longer with the tour

Other FAMOUS StreetBallers

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