The jump ball or tip-off : the glossary of basketix

This is the moment when it all begins. This is what starts the clock, the beginning of the game.

The crowd holds its breath, the two teams face each other, the referee blows the whistle, and the ball flies into the air. In a split second, the entire court shifts from anticipation to action. This precise moment is the tip-off – the jump ball for purists – the first duel of a basketball game.

Definition of the term

According to FIBA’s official rules, a jump ball is: “a procedure used to determine possession of the ball at the start of a period or in certain tie situations.”

The referee stands in the center circle between two opposing players (usually the tallest players on each team) and throws the ball vertically between them. Each player jumps to hit the ball with their hand – without catching it – toward a teammate positioned around the circle. The jump ball is valid if the ball reaches its highest point without premature contact and is legally deflected by one of the two players.

Teammates cannot enter the circle or touch the ball before it has been hit. In the event of a violation, the jump ball is replayed or possession is awarded to the opponent depending on the foul committed.

What role does the jump ball play in basketball ?

The jump ball is a duel and a symbol of aerial dominance. It sets the tone for a game: attitude, commitment, intensity. Even though in modern play, the initial jump ball is often the only real occurrence of the jump ball, it still marks the beginning of the battle, the first possession.

But let’s calm down, it’s difficult to find a top 10 list of the greatest jump balls in history. They have very little bearing on the outcome of a game and are more about setting the pace for the match.

Players associated with the jump ball

This move belongs to the giants of the court. Centers, power forwards, those capable of rising higher than the others to impose their presence from the very first second. Throughout history, names such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and today Victor Wembanyama have made the jump ball a formality. But beware: sometimes a smaller but explosive player can surprise everyone with perfect timing and a predatory instinct (but isn’t that the perfect description of Russell Westbrook ?).