
In basketball, a blocked shot is a crucial aspect of the game, where a defensive player legally deflects an offensive player's field goal attempt to prevent a score. This act of blocking is only deemed valid if the defensive player makes legal contact with the ball, either with one or both hands, during its upward trajectory or at its apex. A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter, and it is awarded to the blocker as a successful defensive play. The interpretation of whether a blocked shot counts as a shot attempt depends on the criteria set by statisticians, which include assessing if the ball was in flight, if the player was in the act of shooting, and if they were airborne with the intention to shoot.
Does a blocked shot count as a shot attempt in basketball?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of a blocked shot | A block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent a score. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The defender is not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless the defender is also in contact with the ball) or a foul is called. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The block must occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The ball may or may not have left the hand of the shooter for the block to be counted. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The defensive player's catch is responsible for changing the shot. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The blocked shot must be clearly in flight before being blocked. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The player must be in the obvious act of shooting with the shooting hand moving toward the basket. |
| Criteria for a blocked shot | The player must be airborne and moving toward the basket with the intention of a dunk or layup and the ball in position for the shot. |
| Statistics | Blocked shots are counted as attempts, usually by an official scorer within organized basketball games. |
| Statistics | Blocked shots can be viewed for an individual player or for an entire team. |
| Statistics | Blocked shots can be displayed for one or more games or as an average of blocks over one or more seasons. |
| Statistics | After a game, a player's individual blocks and the team's total blocks can be viewed in a box score. |
| Exceptions | If the ball is on a downward trajectory after an offensive player's shot, and a defender swats it away, this is a goaltending violation, not a blocked shot. |
| Exceptions | If a defender swats the ball away while it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder, this is basket interference, not a blocked shot. |
| Exceptions | If a player is fouled while shooting and misses, the shot never happened and the block doesn't count. |
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What You'll Learn
- A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt
- A block is when a defensive player legally deflects an offensive player's field goal attempt
- A chase-down block occurs when a player pursues an opponent who ran ahead of the defense
- A blocked shot can't be awarded if a shooting foul occurs, even if a different player deflects the shot
- A blocked shot is awarded when a player makes contact with the ball to alter the flight of a FGA

A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt
In basketball, a blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects or alters the flight path of a field goal attempt by an offensive player to prevent a score. A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter. The defender must not make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless they also make contact with the ball) or a foul is called. The block must occur while the shot is travelling upward or at its apex. If the ball is on a downward trajectory after the offensive player's shot, and a defender swats it away, this is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket.
Blocked shots are counted as attempts when, in the opinion of the statistician, the ball was clearly in flight before being blocked, the player was in the obvious act of shooting with their shooting hand moving towards the basket, or the player was airborne and moving towards the basket with the intention of a dunk or layup. A blocked shot cannot be awarded or counted on a shooting foul, even if the player who deflected the field goal attempt is different from the player who committed the foul.
A chase-down block is a specific type of block that occurs when a player pursues an opposing player who has run ahead of the defence and then blocks their shot attempt. This often involves hitting the ball into the backboard as the opponent attempts a lay-up. A block is one of several categories of statistics that can be documented as numerical data, especially by an official scorer within organised basketball games. This data can be viewed for an individual player or for an entire team, and can be displayed for one or more games or as an average over multiple seasons.
It is important to note that the rules of basketball may vary slightly depending on the league or organisation, and there may be some interpretation involved in determining whether a blocked shot occurred and how it is counted in the statistics. However, the fundamental concept of a blocked shot being counted as a missed field goal attempt remains consistent.
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A block is when a defensive player legally deflects an offensive player's field goal attempt
In basketball, a block or a blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects or prevents an offensive player's field goal attempt from entering the basket. This is also referred to as a "rejection", "stuff", "swat", or "denial", among other nicknames. A block is one of the most exciting and impactful plays in basketball, showcasing a defensive player's skill and timing. It can energize the defensive team and disrupt the offensive flow of the opposing team.
A block is considered legal when the defender does not make contact with the offensive player's hand unless they are also in contact with the ball. The block must also occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. If the ball is on a downward trajectory when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket. In addition, there are rules such as the restricted area rule that prohibits defenders from establishing a legal guarding position within a restricted area near the basket, which is usually a circle painted near the paint. If a defender is inside this restricted zone when attempting to block a shot, it is ruled as a charge.
A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter. It is awarded to a defensive player when they clearly make contact with the ball to alter the flight of a field goal attempt and the shot is missed. The ball may or may not have left the hand of the shooter for the block to be counted. A chase-down block is a specific type of block that occurs when a player pursues an opposing player who has run ahead of the defense and then blocks their shot attempt, often by hitting the ball into the backboard as the opponent tries to complete a lay-up.
The best shot-blockers are often also excellent rebounders, and they can initiate fast breaks after securing the blocked ball. Height and jumping ability are important factors in shot-blocking, but shorter players with good jumping ability can also be effective blockers. Overall, a player with the ability to block shots can be a valuable asset to a team's defense, making it more difficult for opposing players to shoot near the basket.
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A chase-down block occurs when a player pursues an opponent who ran ahead of the defense
In basketball, a blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects or alters the flight path of a field goal attempt by an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender must not make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless they also touch the ball) or it is deemed a foul. The block must occur while the shot is travelling upward or at its apex. If the ball is heading downward when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a successful basket for the shooting team. Blocked shots are counted as attempts when the ball is clearly in flight before being blocked, or when the player is airborne and moving toward the basket with the intention of a dunk or layup.
A chase-down block is a specific type of block that occurs when a player pursues an opponent who has run ahead of the defence, often during a fast break. The defender catches up and blocks the offensive player's shot or dunk attempt, usually from behind. This type of block typically happens when the offensive team quickly executes their transition offence, but the defending team is unable to implement effective transition defence tactics. As a result, the defending team can use a chase-down block to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
Chase-down blocks require speed and vertical jumping ability from the defensive player. Players in positions such as small forward, power forward, or centre are more likely to execute chase-down blocks due to their physical advantages in height and strength. However, players in any position can perform a chase-down block as long as they have the capability to cleanly block the offensive attempt.
One of the most well-known chase-down blocks occurred during the 2004 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, when Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons blocked Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers in Game 2. This play led Pistons announcer Fred McLeod to coin the term "chase-down block". During the 2008-09 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers began tracking chase-down blocks, with LeBron James accumulating an impressive 23 that season.
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A blocked shot can't be awarded if a shooting foul occurs, even if a different player deflects the shot
In basketball, a blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects or alters the flight of an offensive player's field goal attempt to prevent a score. The defender must not make contact with the offensive player's hand unless they also make contact with the ball, or it is ruled as a foul. The block must occur while the shot is travelling upward or at its apex. If the ball is on a downward trajectory when blocked, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket.
A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter and is awarded to the defender. It is recognised as a clear rejection or deflection of a shot by a defensive player, and the ball may or may not have left the shooter's hand for the block to be counted. The defender's action must alter the shot, resulting in a block and a rebound.
While a blocked shot is generally credited to the defender, there are specific scenarios where it cannot be awarded. One such scenario is when a shooting foul occurs. Even if a different player deflects the shot, if a foul is called on any member of the defensive team, the blocked shot cannot be awarded. This is because the foul takes precedence over the blocked shot. The shooting foul results in free throws for the offensive player, and the potential scoring opportunity takes precedence over the defensive play.
It is important to note that the rules of basketball can vary slightly between different organisations and leagues. While there may not be an "official" guide from governing bodies like the NBA, certain principles are widely accepted. One such principle is that an airborne shooter can be fouled at any time until they return to the floor, resulting in a "shooting foul" and the appropriate number of free throws. This can occur even after the shot is released, as long as the contact is made before the shooter is back on the floor.
In summary, a blocked shot cannot be awarded if a shooting foul occurs, regardless of whether the player who deflects the shot is different from the player who commits the foul. This is due to the precedence of the foul and the resulting free throws or scoring opportunity for the offensive team.
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A blocked shot is awarded when a player makes contact with the ball to alter the flight of a FGA
In basketball, a blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects or alters the flight path of a field goal attempt (FGA) from an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender must not make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless they also make contact with the ball) or it is deemed a foul. The block must occur while the shot is travelling upward or at its apex, and if the ball is heading downward when deflected, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket.
A blocked shot is awarded when a player makes contact with the ball, altering the flight of a FGA. This recognises a clear rejection or deflection of a shot by a defensive player. The ball may or may not have left the hand of the shooter for the block to be counted, and the defensive player's catch is responsible for changing the shot's trajectory. A blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter.
A chase-down block is a specific type of blocked shot that occurs when a player pursues an opposing player who has run ahead of the defence and blocks their shot attempt. This often involves hitting the ball into the backboard as the opponent attempts a lay-up. An example of this is Detroit Pistons' Tayshaun Prince's game-saving block on Reggie Miller in the 2004 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Blocked shots are generally counted as attempts when the statistician deems that the ball was in flight before being blocked, the player was in the act of shooting with their hand moving towards the basket, or the player was airborne and moving towards the basket with the intention of shooting. If there is doubt about whether the player was in the act of shooting, it is interpreted that they were not.
It is important to note that blocked shots are not awarded or counted if a shooting foul occurs, even if the player deflecting the shot is different from the player who committed the foul. In the case of an "and-1", where a player is fouled and still makes the shot, it counts as a successful field goal attempt, and not a blocked shot.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a blocked shot is counted as a shot attempt. A blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects an offensive player's field goal attempt. For the shooter, this counts as a missed field goal attempt.
A steal is when a player's positive, aggressive actions, including contact with the ball, cause a turnover by an opponent. A steal can be accomplished by taking the ball away from an opponent in control of the ball or getting a hand on the ball to cause a held ball to be called.
If the ball is on a downward trajectory after an offensive player's shot attempt and a defender swats it away from the basket, it is considered goaltending. Goaltending is a violation, and the shot counts as a made basket. A block occurs when the ball is on an upward trajectory or at its apex.
No, a block requires legal contact with the ball. The defender is also not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand unless they are also touching the ball.
If a player is fouled while shooting and misses the shot, the blocked shot does not count. If the player makes the shot, it counts as a field goal attempt and make.











































