General
downtown
What does downtown mean?
A shot taken from far beyond the three-point arc; long-range territory.
"He pulled up from downtown and buried it."
Origin
Broadcast slang popularized in the 1980s for long bombs.
Frequently asked questions
What does downtown mean in basketball?
It refers to shooting from well beyond the three-point line, deep in long-range territory.
Where does the basketball term downtown come from?
It's broadcast slang popularized in the 1980s to describe long-distance bombs from far outside.
How do announcers use downtown?
They'll say a shooter pulled up 'from downtown' when he launches and makes a deep three-pointer.
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