Basketball, colloquially referred to as hoops, is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball through the defender's hoop while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one or more one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime) is mandated.
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team. Gasol has won two NBA championships, both with the Los Angeles Lakers back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies, being the first non-American player to have won that award. He is the older brother of fellow NBA player Marc Gasol.
Timothy Theodore Duncan is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Big Fundamental", he is widely regarded as the best power forward of all time and as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He spent his entire 19-year playing career with the Spurs.
LeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely considered one of the greatest NBA players, James is frequently compared to Michael Jordan in debates over the greatest basketball player of all time. Playing on the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, James is the only player in NBA history to have brought NBA championships to three franchises as Finals MVP. He has competed in ten NBA Finals, including eight consecutive with the Heat and Cavaliers from 2011 through 2018. His accomplishments include four NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, four Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. During his 17-year career, James holds the record for all-time playoffs points, is third in all-time points, and eighth in career assists. James has been selected to the All-NBA First Team a record thirteen times, made the All-Defensive First Team five times, and has played in sixteen All-Star Games, in which he was selected All-Star MVP three times.
Jerry Ray Lucas is an American former basketball player. He was a nationally awarded high school player, national college star at Ohio State, and 1960 gold medal Olympian and international player before later starring as a professional player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German former professional basketball player. Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), he is widely regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time.
Tracy Lamar McGrady Jr. is an American former professional basketball player, best known for his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, two-time NBA scoring champion, and one-time winner of the NBA Most Improved Player Award. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017.
Benjamin Cameron Wallace is an American retired professional basketball player. Playing most of his career in the National Basketball Association, he is often considered to be the best undrafted NBA player ever. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University. In his NBA career, Wallace played with the Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Antawn Cortez Jamison is an American former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He serves as director of pro personnel for the Washington Wizards. Jamison played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, being named national player of the year in 1998. He was selected by the Toronto Raptors as the fourth overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft before being traded to the Golden State Warriors for former Tar Heel teammate Vince Carter.
Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw, is a French basketball executive and former player who is the president of Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A. Diaw began his playing career in Pro A and returned to that league after 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played mostly at the power forward position. In 2006, Diaw was named the NBA's Most Improved Player as a member of the Phoenix Suns. He won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ibaka was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder's former incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics, with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Ibaka is a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and has twice led the league in blocks. Although born in the Republic of the Congo, Ibaka plays for the Spain national team in international competition.
Kristopher Carlos Joseph is a Canadian professional basketball player for ADA Blois Basket 41 of the LNB Pro B. He played for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team from 2008 to 2012. He was selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics with the 51st pick overall.
JSA Bordeaux Basket is a professional basketball club based in Bordeaux, France. The club plays in the NM1, the Third-tier level league of France.
Bogdan Bogdanović is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The shooting guard also represents the Serbian national basketball team internationally.
Léo Joseph Paul Westermann is a French professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketball League and the EuroLeague. Standing at 1.98 m, he plays at the point guard position. He also represents the senior French national basketball team.
Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, after which he was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year. Simmons was selected with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the 76ers. After sitting out a year due to an injured right foot, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018. Simmons was named NBA All-Star in 2019 and 2020.
Markel Humphrey is an American basketball player who plays for Union Neuchâtel of the Swiss Basketball League. He usually plays as small forward or shooting guard.
Akselis Vairogs is a Latvian professional basketball player, who plays the shooting guard position. He is currently playing for Valmiera/ORDO.
Élie-Franck Okobo is a French professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall combo guard, the Bordeaux native began his club career at age 16, joining local team JSA Bordeaux, for whom he saw limited playing time. Okobo subsequently competed for the youth team of Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez, reaching the LNB Espoirs title game in 2016. In the 2016–17 season, he assumed a greater role with the senior team, and in the following year, he became a regular starter.
Marques Townes is a Dominican-American basketball player for UCAM Murcia of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the Loyola Ramblers, after beginning his career with Fairleigh Dickinson. A native of Edison, New Jersey, he attended Cardinal McCarrick High School and St. Joseph High School, where he played both basketball and football. Entering the college level, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard was a three-star basketball recruit. He drew national attention after helping the Ramblers reach the Final Four round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
