Basketball is a widely popular sport that has captured the hearts of millions of fans across the globe, played by both amateurs and professionals alike. It was invented by a Canadian physical education instructor named James Naismith in 1891, with the aim of keeping his students active during winter. Initially, the game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to the balcony of the gymnasium. Betwinner is an online betting platform that offers an array of sports, including basketball, for fans to enjoy. It provides enthusiasts with the chance to place bets on their favorite teams, players, and events, adding an extra layer of excitement to the game.
Since then, basketball has evolved to become a global phenomenon, with the National Basketball Association (NBA) being one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world. The objective of basketball is quite straightforward: to score points by throwing the ball through the opponent’s hoop. The game is played with two teams of five players each, and it is split into four quarters, with each quarter lasting 12 minutes in the NBA.
At the beginning of the game, a coin toss determines which team gets possession of the ball. The game starts with a “jump ball,” where the ball is thrown up between two players from each team, and they attempt to tap it to a teammate. Once a team gains possession of the ball, they can advance it up the court by passing it to a teammate or by dribbling it.
Dribbling entails bouncing the ball on the court while moving. If a player stops dribbling and holds the ball, they cannot start dribbling again. They must either pass the ball or shoot it before their pivot foot moves. The pivot foot is the one that remains stationary while a player holds the ball.
When a player has possession of the ball, they can shoot it into the opposing team’s basket from any position on the court. If the ball goes into the basket, the team earns two points. If the shot is taken beyond the three-point line, the team scores three points.
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Sportsmen and tournaments
From iconic players such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James, basketball has produced some of the greatest sports stars of all time. Given its popularity, it’s no surprise that basketball is a favorite among sports bettors. Betwinner, a popular sports betting platform, offers a wide range of options for basketball enthusiasts to place their bets.
Here are some of the top basketball tournaments and athletes to watch and bet on at Betwinner:
- NBA: The National Basketball Association is the world’s foremost professional basketball league. With 30 teams and high-profile players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, the NBA is a fan favorite for sports betting. Betwinner provides several NBA betting options, such as point spread bets and money line bets.
- FIBA World Cup: The FIBA World Cup is the biggest global basketball competition, featuring teams from across the globe. The event takes place every four years, and the next edition will be held in 2023. Betwinner offers a variety of betting choices for FIBA World Cup games, including over/under bets and futures bets.
- EuroLeague: The EuroLeague is Europe’s foremost professional basketball league, featuring top teams from across the continent. Betwinner offers several betting options for EuroLeague games, including handicaps and total points bets.
- WNBA: The Women’s National Basketball Association is the premier professional basketball league for women globally. With stars like Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi, the WNBA is an exciting league to watch and bet on. Betwinner offers a variety of betting choices for WNBA games, including player props and live betting.
- Olympics: The Olympics are the ultimate international sporting event, featuring the world’s top athletes competing for their countries. Basketball has been an Olympic sport since 1936 and has produced some of the most unforgettable moments in Olympic history. Betwinner offers several betting options for Olympic basketball games, including medal winner bets and game total bets.
Whether you’re a serious fan or a casual bettor, basketball is an exciting sport to watch and bet on, and Betwinner is the ideal platform to place your wagers.
Questions and answers
Where to bet?
Betwinner offers a variety of basketball betting options such as money line bets, point spread bets and over/under bets. Money line betting is the simplest form of betting where the player predicts which team will win the game. Point distribution bets are more complex when a player predicts whether a team will win by a certain margin. Over/Under betting involves predicting whether the total number of points scored in a game will be over or under a certain number.
What are the basic rules of the game?
There are many rules that govern basketball. For example, a player is not allowed to touch the ball while in the ring and cannot hold the ball for more than five seconds while under guard. Players are also prohibited from pushing, hitting or holding other players while the ball is in play. If a player commits a foul, a rule violation that results in a free throw or other penalty to the opposing team, he may be disqualified from the game after committing five fouls.