General
green light
What does green light mean?
A coach's blessing for a player to take shots whenever they want without worrying about shot selection.
"Coach gave him the green light from three all season."
Origin
Traffic-light metaphor for freedom to shoot.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'green light' mean in basketball?
It means a coach has given a player permission to shoot freely without being second-guessed on shot selection.
Who gets the 'green light' on a basketball team?
Usually the team's best shooters or top scorers, who are trusted to take shots whenever they feel open.
Where does the term 'green light' come from?
It's a traffic-light metaphor, where green means go, applied to a player's freedom to shoot.
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