A shot that never fades away

Originally in the US, basketball is one of the most recognized sport today having it's beacon the NBA where all the greatest basketball players are joined together. US Basketball team is one team hot every Olympics because they are usually gets the Gold in their field. Their originally introduced the so called "Dream Team" with 10 of their 12 basketball members are enlisted in the "50 Greatest Players in the NBA of all time". NBA being the beacon of basketball professionals in the world. Getting more millions of basketball enthusiast, they developed another version of the sport, which they called it "Street Ball" a urban style basketball which also gathered some many fans. Equipped with some new styles in basketball it's a basketball to the Hip Hop Community.
There are many training camps across the US which handles every basketball player aspirants want to become a basketball pro. Some Universities and Colleges are offers scholarships and allowances to their varsity players. Know more about how to get more exposure. D1athletes.com offers a chance to get to everyone. Its a sports community which talks about basically sports and gives members a chance to be discovered by there basketball recruiting program.

James is listed as a small forward, but is often classified as a point forward due to his ability to play point guard. He is a member of the United States men's national basketball team winning the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and redeeming that result by winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. He finished second in the league's Most Valuable Player balloting in 2006.

James, nicknamed as "King James," was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while still in high school at St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, and was named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" three times. At the age of 18, he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers and signed an US$90 million shoe contract with Nike before his NBA debut. He has since set numerous youngest player records. During his first season, he received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and in the following four seasons received All-NBA and All-Star honors. He has led the Cavaliers to consecutive playoff appearances in 2006, 2007, and 2008; in 2007, the team advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 and the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Awards and Recognition
* NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
* NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2004
* NBA Scoring Champion: 2008
* 2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2006, 2008
* 4-time NBA All-Star: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
* 4-time All-NBA:
o First Team: 2006, 2008
o Second Team: 2005, 2007
* Bronze medal with Team USA, 2004 Summer Olympic Games
* Gold medal with Team USA, 2008 Summer Olympic Games
* Bronze medal with Team USA, 2006 FIBA World Championship
* Gold medal with Team USA, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship

Classified as number one or atleast in the top 10 of the "Best Players in the NBA" ended his third NBA's season at its best he ranked:
# 3 in the NBA in Points Per Game,
# 12 in the NBA in Assists Per Game,
# 2 in the NBA in Minutes Per Game,
# 2 in the NBA in Minutes Played,
# 2 in the NBA in Field Goals Made,
# 2 in the NBA in Field Goal Attempts,
# 6 in the NBA in Free Throws,
# 3 in the NBA in Free Throw Attempts and
# 2 in the NBA in Points.

Aim high with be the next basketball superstar like Lebron try to join at some basketball recruiting events at some universities and colleges across the US.

Personal fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.

Hitting
Pushing
Slapping
Holding
Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.

Personal foul penalties: If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free throws if his shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in.

Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-point goal and they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point shot and makes it anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four points on the play.

Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court.

One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then he is awarded another free throw.

Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the fouled player receives two free throws.

Charging. An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.

Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.

Flagrant foul. Violent contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and punching. This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of the ball after the free throws.

Intentional foul. When a player makes physical contact with another player with no reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials.

Technical foul. Technical foul. A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, as can technical details regarding filling in the scorebook improperly or dunking during warm-ups.

Knowing to know how to use your fouls wisely will stay you in the game. Try joining some Basketball Recruiting programs by some schools to help you become a scholar. Good Luck!

The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the Eastern Conference with the best players in the Western Conference. The participants are currently chosen in two ways. The first is via fan ballot, with the leading vote recipients at each position starting the game; secondly the reserves are chosen by a vote among the head coaches of each squad's particular conference. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players. If a player is injured and cannot participate, the commissioner will select a replacement.

The All-Star Game is played under normal NBA rules, but there are notable differences from an average game.

Gameplay usually involves players attempting spectacular slam dunks and alley oops. Defensive effort is limited and the final score of the game is generally much higher than an average NBA game. The coaches also try to give most of the reserve players some time on the court instead of using a limited rotation as they would in a normal game. The fourth quarter of the game is often played in a more competitive fashion if the game is close.

Halftime is also longer than a typical NBA game due to musical performances by various artists.

Basketball Offense: The art of attempting to put the ball into the basket.

2-Point Shot: An attempt taken inside the 3-point perimeter.

3-Point Shot: A made basket that counts for 3 points. This shot is taken outside of the 3-point perimeter line.

Free Throw: When a player is fouled either in the act of shooting or in a bonus situation, he is given a chance to make 1 or 2 shots from the foul line, depending on the situation.

Pass: Passing of ball between members. Just watch out for roving defenders.

Lay-up: The simplest shot in basketball, usually taken close to the basket and banked off the corner of the backboard. This shot, when missed, can cause rapid Jeckel/ Hyde transformations in most coaches.

Jumpshot: As the word says, it's a jumping shot.

Slam Dunk: A very stimulating shot in which a player stuffs the ball like a turkey into the net with no hope of recovery. A made dunk usually results in wild cheering from the fans, but when missed can be very humiliating.

Fast Break: When a few players from one team, usually after a steal, breaks away from the rest of the players and go really fast down the floor in attempts to score an easy basket, usually a dunk or lay-up.

Airball: This is a shot that once taken, the shooter quickly drops to his knees to pray for it to hit something. It, however, does not. If it doesn't hit the backboard or net or rim the defense team will gain possession of the ball.

Alley-oop: Passing the ball to a team offensive member and catch it near the basket. While on the air the catcher dunks it to the net.

Point Guard: The Floor General, the Coach on the Floor, or, the brains of the operations. Usually the best and brightest player on the floor assumes the responsibilities of bringing the ball up the floor, calling the plays and organizing the troops.

Shooting Guard: A guard that shoots the ball. The eagle eye of the shooters.

Power Forward: A power forward is an all-purpose player. He can dribble some, shoot some, and muscle down low. Usually taller than Guards.

Center: The big tall guy in the middle of the paint. Usually they are very slow and never get back on fast breaks. They do, however, make awesome slam dunks and alley-oops.

Water Boy: An essential part of the hydrating process. The sacred H2O provider of the team.

Basketball Defense: All five players on the floor trying to stop the opposing team from scoring.

Block: When a defensive player dashes all hopes of a made basket by knocking the ball away from the goal.

Rejection: This type of play can occur both on and off the court. When a guy makes a pass, thinks the ball is in his court, goes hard to the hole and then gets rejected.

Goal Tending: An attempt from a defensive player to block a shot but touching the ball on it's decent towards the hoop. Results in automatic points for the offensive team.

Press: After scoring on offense the team, now on defense, tries to disrupt the opposing team by playing full court defense and using such antics as yelling, screaming, and waving their arms in jumping-jack like fashion in hopes for a steal. This type of defense usually occurs when a team needs quick points.

Double-Team: When two defensive players guard one offensive player.

Referee: The Zebras inside the court. Calls basketball violations and gives sanctions to the violators.

Double Dribble: Once a player picks up his dribble, he is not allowed to dribble again. However, if that player decides that he must violate this rule, the ball is immediately turned over to the other team, assuming that the guys in the zebra-striped shirts catch it.

Five-Seconds: A player on offensive when guarded by a defensive player, is allowed to hold or dribble the ball for five seconds. If the player exceeds this amount of time, it is a violation and the ball is turned over to opposing team.

Traveling: When a basketball player has flashbacks from his high school football glory days and rushes to the end zone with the ball. Unfortunately he is awakened to the sound of whistles. Holding the ball with 3 steps.

Lane Violations: Players are only allowed to stay in the lane or paint for three seconds. Both for Offense and Defense.

Hack: A flagrant or hack across the arms of a player who is in the act of shooting, causing him to miss the shot badly.

Foul: A defensive player that comes into contact with an offensive player in an illegal fashion. Hacking, bumping or reaching usually results in a foul. College players receive five fouls per game.

Technical Foul: A technical foul results in two free throws and possession of the ball for the opposing team. Technical fouls are usually given to players/coaches doing misconduct inside the court.

Fouling Out: After a player on the away team commits his fifth foul, he is confined to sit on the bench for the remainder of the game. Reminiscing his faults and prays for his team to win.

Time out: When the boys get in a fight, pull each other's hair and take their ball and go home. This usually results in a time out so they can think about what they've done. Reminding the coach what's their asses' purpose in there.

Overtime: If both teams are not ready to go home and are tied at the end of regulation (which is two, 20-minute halves), the game goes into a five minute overtime period. The team that is ahead at the end of the extra five minutes is the winner.

Tip- Off: To start off every game, the tallest player from each team meets in the center circle. The ref throws the ball in the air and the two players try to tap it to one of their teammates that are strategically placed around the center circle.

Halftime: In between the two halves, there is a 10 minute break in play for the two teams to regroup. Both teams go to their respected locker rooms and the crowd is entertained by the cheerleaders and dance squads. Also, this is a good time for a bathroom break or concession run. If you're a fan, you don't want to miss any of the action!

Warm-Up: Each team gets one half of the court before the game begins to practice and loosen up for the game (feeling the floor and arena). We don't want a bunch of cold basketball players at the beginning of the game do we?

Shot Clock: The shot clock is the little clock above the backboard that counts down from 24 seconds giving the team on offensive 24 total seconds to shoot the ball. If the ball however hits the rim, but the shot misses, the shot clock is reset and the team has another 24 seconds to score.

Backboard: The big piece of glass behind the rim. It is very useful when shooting a via board.

Sweet Spot: The part of the backboard that shooters know how to use. (Add your own cheesy sexual innuendo here)

Bucket: Bucket, hoop, goal, score, whatever you want to call it, they all mean the same thing. This is what you want the ball to go through so you can get points.

Three Point Line: An arching line that goes from one side of the basket all the way to the other. The distance is from the goal to the line at any point is 21 feet and the players are given more points (three instead of two) if they make a shot from behind this line.

Free Throw Line: A line 15 feet directly in front of the basket. Players that are fouled shoot their free throws/foul shots from this line.

Boxing out: A player's position between an opposing player and the basket to obtain a better rebounding position.

Dribbling: Bouncing the ball with 1 hand using your fingertips instead of your palm so that it rebounds back to yourself.

Rebounding: The recovering of a shot that bounces off the backboard or the rim.