Test Your Basketball IQ

What is your basketball skill level, and what are your ambitions with the game?

I’m a beginner. I enjoy the game and just like learning about it.

I’m an average player. I like the game a lot, but it’s more of a hobby for me.

I’m a good player. I love the game and I’m motivated to become the best player I can become.

I’m an elite player with big ambitions. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it big in this game.

Now let’s move on to testing your IQ on the basketball court. There are 20 questions in this quiz. We’ll start easy, then the questions will get harder. Good luck!

1. How long does the offensive team have to cross over the half court line with the ball?

15 seconds.

5 seconds.

8 seconds.

10 seconds.

2. What is a fast break?

A quick ball handler.

An offensive opportunity that converts quickly.

A quick shot out of a timeout.

A 20-second time out.

3. What is the free throw line to the baseline called?

Alley.

Lane.

Drive.

Free throw area.

5. On offense, what does the term “swinging the ball” mean?

The higher arc of some shooters.

A quick turnover.

Moving the ball from one side of the floor to the other.

Faking a pass.

6. What is an "offensive iso"?

Winding the clock down to take the last shot.

The same player scoring back-to-back.

An offensive strategy to isolate a single defensive player.

An offensive play that frees up a shooter for an open shot.

7. What is a skip pass?

A pass from the point guard to a secondary player.

A pass from the top of the key to the post.

A pass across several offensive players.

A pass from the wing to the post.

8. What is the defensive restricted area?

The area where a charge is not awarded to defensive players.

The key.

The opposing coach’s box.

An area where the defense is restricted from entering.

9. What is considered the worst shot in basketball?

A shot inside the key.

A shot just inside the 3-point line.

A shot outside the restricted area.

A strongly-contested shot.

11. What is a secondary break?

A set play out of a timeout.

When the second-leading scorer scores.

A continuously moving scoring play off of a made basket before running your set offense.

On an inbounding play, it’s the second option when your first option doesn’t work.

12. What is a down screen?

A poorly-set screen

A screen set by a frontcourt player.

A screen facing the baseline.

A screen at the top of the key.

13. In a 1-3-1 half-court zone defense, what are the trapping areas?

Top of the key.

Foul line.

Baseline corners.

The area in front of the opposing teams' bench.

14. What does a “strong side offensive hold” refer to?

Shooting too quickly.

Maintaining the ball on the strong side to develop the weak side movement.

Maintaining the ball on the weak side to open up scoring opportunities on the strong side.

A ball hog.

15. What is the strong side of the court?

The side where the strongest player is.

The side with the most players.

The right side of the court.

The left side of the court.

16. Why does it matter to know what the strong side of the court is?

A. On offense, it’s easier to score on the weak side.

B. On defense, it’s easier to stop opponents by forcing them to the weak side of the court.

C. On offense, it’s easier to score on the strong side.

D. On defense, it’s easier to stop opponents by forcing them to the strong side of the court.

Both A and D.

Both B and C.

18. What is a defensive lead foot?

For right-handed players, it’s your right foot. For left-handed players, it’s your left foot.

For right-handed players, it’s your left foot. For left-handed players, it’s your right foot.

The defender’s foot positioned ahead of the offensive player.

The defender’s foot positioned behind the offensive player.

Test Your Basketball IQ

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