Basketball

Top dunks

Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone – just a few of the NBA Hall of Famers who have showcased their skills at a FISU Games before taking the world’s best basketball league by storm. Who will be the next stars to light up the court with their slam dunks, hook shots and crossover dribbles? Basketball (in addition to volleyball) at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games is another sport which will be played in more than one city, so that there is no shortage of great viewing points for this high octane, end-to-end sport. 

Rules

Basketball is a sport requiring a mix of offensive and defensive strategies, with teamwork and communication being essential for success. It is played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court measuring 28 x 15 metres. Players score points by shooting a ball through a 46cm-diameter hoop suspended 3.05 metres above the playing surface, one at each end. Three points are awarded for successful shots made from beyond a line arching 6.75 metres around the opponent’s basket, and two points for shots made inside. Free throws, worth one point each and taken from a designated line, are awarded after certain fouls. Games consist of four quarters of 10 minutes according to FIBA rules and regulations, with the winning team amassing the most points by the end of regulation time or, in the event of a tie, overtime. 

FAST FACTS

Fun Facts

Ever wondered why the baskets stand at precisely 3.05 meters? It is because when James Naismith introduced the game in 1891, he placed the peach baskets at the height of the gym's balcony railing: precisely 3.05 meters. Since then, that number has remained the standard height for basketball hoops worldwide.