Bank Shot

What does Bank Shot Mean?

A shot in basketball in which the ball hits or "banks" off the backboard before touching the rim or going into the basket.

Sporting Charts explains Bank Shot

A bank shot utilizes the backboard to create an angle for the ball to go into the hoop. A basketball player will typically use a bank shot during mid-to-short range jump shots, especially if they are shooting at a tough angle. Most layups tend to be bank shots, but not all bank shots are layups. The small rectangle just above the rim on the backboard is meant to be used as an aid to players when they are using the backboard to bank shots.

Some well-known users of the bank shot in the NBA are Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant.