Block (basketball)

For the illegal defensive contact, see Personal foul (basketball).
Cliff Alexander blocks a shot during the 2013 IHSA playoffs.

In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender is not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless the defender is also in contact with the ball) or a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. A deflected field goal that is made does not count as a blocked shot and simply counts as a successful field goal attempt for shooter plus the points awarded to the shooting team. For the shooter, a blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt. Also, on a shooting foul, a blocked shot cannot be awarded or counted, even if the player who deflected the field goal attempt is different from the player who committed the foul. If the ball is heading downward when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket. Goaltending is also called if the block is made after the ball bounces on the backboard (NFHS excepted; the NCAA also used this rule until the 2009–10 season).

Nicknames for blocked shots include "rejections", "stuffs", "bushed", "spoinked", "fudged", or notably "double-fudged" (two-handed blocks), "facials", "swats", "denials", and "packs". Blocked shots were first officially recorded in the NBA during the 1973–74 season.

Largely due to their height and position near the basket, centers and power forwards tend to record the most blocks, but shorter players with good jumping ability can also be blockers, an example being Dwyane Wade, the shortest player, at 6'4", to record 100 blocked shots in a single season.[1] A player with the ability to block shots can be a positive asset to a team's defense, as they can make it difficult for opposing players to shoot near the basket and, when keeping the basketball in play, as opposed to swatting it out of bounds, a blocked shot can lead to a fast break, a skill Bill Russell was notable for.[2][3] To be a good shot-blocker, a player needs great court sense and timing, and good height or jumping ability. One tactic is that a shot-blocker can intimidate opponents to alter their shots, resulting in a miss.

  1. ^ "The Legacy of Dwyane Wade: Is He The Last Elite Shooting Guard?". dish2swish.com. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  2. ^ Bill Simmons (2010). The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 69, 404. ISBN 978-0-345-52010-4.
  3. ^ Gregory, Sean; Wolff, Alexander. Richard O’Brien (ed.). "The Game that Saved March Madness". Sports Illustrated. Mourning: "I would tell you this. Coach Thompson brought Bill Russell in to speak to me and Dikembe. And he's like, Listen, if you block a shot into the stands, the opposing team does nothing but get the ball back. And he said if you have the ability to block shots, why not keep it inbounds? He said don't swing at it. Direct it. I've never forgotten that."