Glossary of Basketball Terms - A

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ACB
The top professional league in Spain; often regarded as the second-strongest domestic league in the world, behind the NBA. Initialism for the Spanish Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ("Association of Basketball Clubs").
advance step
A step in which the defender's lead foot steps toward their man and the back foot slides forward.
air ball
An unblocked shot that fails to hit the rim or backboard. Does not reset the shot clock.
alley oop
An offensive play in which a player throws the ball up near the basket to a teammate (or, more rarely, to himself) who jumps, catches the ball in mid air and immediately scores a basket, usually with a slam dunk.
and one
The free throw awarded to a shooter who is fouled while scoring.
assist
A pass to a teammate who scores a basket immediately or after one dribble.

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