General
denying the ball
What does denying the ball mean?
A defensive tactic of getting between an opponent and the ball to prevent them catching a pass.
"They denied the ball to their best scorer all night."
Origin
Descriptive defensive coaching term.
Frequently asked questions
What does denying the ball mean in basketball?
Denying the ball is a defensive tactic of positioning yourself between an opponent and the ball to stop them from catching a pass.
How do you deny the ball?
The defender gets into the passing lane with an arm extended toward the ball, staying on the ball side of the opponent to block the pass.
Why do teams deny the ball?
Denying the ball keeps a dangerous scorer from getting easy touches, disrupting the offense and forcing the ball to less effective players.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
