General
alley-oop
What does alley-oop mean?
An offensive play where one player lobs the ball near the rim and a teammate catches it midair to dunk or lay it in.
"They ran a perfect alley-oop off the baseline out-of-bounds."
Origin
From French 'allez-hop,' a circus acrobat's cry; adopted in football then basketball.
Frequently asked questions
What is an alley-oop in basketball?
It's a play where one player lobs the ball near the rim and a teammate catches it in midair to dunk or lay it in.
Where does the term 'alley-oop' come from?
It comes from the French 'allez-hop,' a cry used by circus acrobats, and was used in football before basketball adopted it.
Does an alley-oop have to be a dunk?
No, the midair finish can be a dunk or a layup, though the highlight-reel versions are usually dunks.
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