How to Start Getting into Watching Basketball?

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world and in the United States.  And with 30 franchise teams in the National Basketball Association, the sport has a direct impact on nearly every state in the country and in Canada.  And while basketball may appear somewhat confusing and difficult to understand, nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, basketball is one of the easier sports to both understand and play, requiring little equipment to get started.  And if you are wondering how to start getting into watching basketball, then you’ve come to the right place.  Below, we are going to guide you on how to begin getting into watching basketball step-by-step and by the end of this article we guarantee that you’ll be left a more knowledgeable and avid fan!

Why Should You Start Getting into Basketball?

While each individual’s reason for wanting to learn more about the sport of basketball is different, basketball is often one of the first sports that many people will begin to watch and play.  Again, while the reasons may vary, typically it is due to the global popularity of the sport.

Whereas football is the most popular sport in America, it is less prevalent in other countries and typically not as popular around the world.  Similarly, whereas soccer is one of the most popular global sports, its impact is less great in America.  But basketball appears to cross-over between different countries and cultures, making it one of the true, and only, global sports.

In fact, basketballs popularity often begets a sense of reverence for the players in the NBA.  Fans will often wait for hours to watch their favorite team and players play, additional hours to secure an autograph from their favorite player, and additional hours perusing videos online of the latest highlights and streams.

Understanding the Basics of the Sport

Before getting into the sport of basketball, it is absolutely crucial to understand the basic rules and regulations of the game.  And while basketball was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor, the sport has come a long way since its first inception.

Basketball is meant to be played by two teams of five players.  The goal of the sport is to place the basketball through the basketball net, earning points for your team after each successful attempt.  At the end of regulation, the team with more points overall is considered the winner of the game.

In basketball, the two teams will play on a rectangular court, with a basketball hoop placed on both ends.  In a regulation or professional game, the hoop is elevated 10 feet above the ground.  And within the rectangular court, there is a line which divides the two sides, so called the half court line.

The offensive team will look to exploit weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the defensive team as a means to score points.  However, in order to move the ball, an offensive player must either maintain a constant dribble or pass the basketball to a teammate.  Moving the ball without dribbling is considered a penalty and will result in a loss of possession of the basketball.

And in many professional leagues, a shot clock will be affixed above the basketball hoop, limiting the amount of time the offensive team is allowed to maintain possession of the basketball.  This is done as to allow for more constant play between the two teams and to discourage any one team from holding the ball and effectively running down the clock.

Although the offensive team, that is the team with possession of the basketball, will attempt to place the ball through the hoop, the defensive team will attempt to thwart their advances.  This is done by playing defense against the offensive team, attempting to steal the ball, blocking or deflecting shots, and securing the ball, so called a rebound, after a missed shot.

And lastly, when it comes to scoring in a game of basketball, each shot made is not created equal.  When an offensive team makes a basket, it is considered to be worth two points and possession of the basketball will transfer to the opposing team.  However, if an offensive team attempts, and makes, a shot behind the three-point arc, then their team will be awarded three points.

Lastly, if an offensive player is fouled, dependent on the situation, they may be awarded a free throw opportunity.  Each successfully made free throw will award the offensive team one point and, again dependent on the situation, an offensive player may be awarded one, two, or three free throw opportunities.

Getting into Watching the Game of Basketball

Once you have acclimated yourself with the basic rules of basketball, you’ll be better positioned to begin watching the games and understanding the nuances of the game.  Below, we are going to review some great ways to begin getting into watching the game of basketball.

• Choose a Team to Root For – perhaps above-all-else, you should choose a team to root for.  And with 30 franchise NBA teams, there are definitely quite a few to choose from.  Our recommendation?  When you are just starting to get into the sport, we always recommend rooting for the home team or the team that is closest to you by geographical distance.  This will help you to build an emotional connection to the team, will allow for you to more easily purchase fan gear and merchandise from local stores, and will make it easier to attend their home games.

• Purchase Some Team Gear and Merchandise – a true and real fan will have some of their favorite team’s merchandise or gear with them.  Doing so not only helps to support your team, but also signifies to others your fandom and support of the team.  And while most big-box retailers will sell local team merchandise, you can also purchase authentic NBA merchandise and gear online.

• Consider Purchasing an NBA League Pass Subscription – if you are looking to get into watching basketball and the NBA, then perhaps there is no better way to do so than by purchasing an NBA League Pass subscription.  While a plethora of NBA games are televised nationally, either on ESPN, TNT, AABC, or NBA TV, NBA League Pass will provide you with all NBA games played and allow you to keep up with the latest standings and rankings.

• Follow Your Favorite Players and Teams on Social Media – in decades past, avid basketball fans had limited options to keep-up with their favorite teams.  However, with the inception of the internet, true fans are able to keep-up with their favorite teams and players 24/7.  Consider following teams and players on social media to always be in the loop and to build a stronger connection with those teams and players.  Also consider checking out our recommendations on the best NBA accounts to follow on both Instagram and Twitter.

• Go to a Game at the Stadium – there really is no better way to get into watching basketball than by going to a game at the stadium.  While watching an NBA game at home, with your favorite snacks, is a great experience, nothing truly compares to watching the game at the stadium.  Packed with like-minded fans and great energy, you may just be called to compete in the halftime contest!

• Familiarize Yourself with Your Favorite Team’s Starting Lineup – while you don’t need to know every player on every team, you should familiarize yourself with your favorite team’s starting lineup.  These five players are typically the best players on the team and familiarizing yourself with those players will help you to build a stronger connection to the team.

• Always Root for Your Team – although you are allowed to criticize certain aspects of your favorite team, you should always root for your favorite team.  Cheer through the great and fun moments and be hopeful when things look bleak. 

• Read up on the History of the NBA and Basketball – if you really want to get into the sport of basketball, then reading up on the history of the NBA and on specific books about the game will help you to be a more informed and knowledgeable fan.

• Watch Basketball Documentaries – basketball is one of the most widely talked about and discussed sports in the world.  And with an avid fandom, many documentaries, mini-series, and television shows have been produced discussing the game.  If you want to really get into watching the game, then consider watching a few of those documentaries or mini-series.