This is a list of common NBA terms used for sets across the league. This is not a full list of in-depth terms but will help some of you start to realize different actions.

Angle: A pick-and-roll half-court set off the slot with shooters on the opposite slot and in both corners.

Chin: Chin is a back screen in the slot directly into a flare screen for the other slot player.

Dive: A half-court set in which one big fakes a drag and cuts down the middle while the other big lifts to set a ball-screen on the other side of the ball-handler.

Double Drag: Two consecutive ball-screens set in transition or semi-transition by trailers who run into the screen from a 90-degree angle to the ball-handler.

Drag: Ball-screen  in transition or just after by a trailer

Dunker Spot: The two areas just outside the paint along the baseline.

Flare: An off-ball screen set behind or to the side of a defender that allows another offensive player to fade along the three-point line

Floppy: Probably the most common/basic NBA set. Floppy is when a shooter (2) has the option to cut off of a single screen or staggered screen.

Hammer: A hammer screen is when a player sets a back screen for another player to cut to the corner for a shot.

Horns: A half-court set in which two bigs set ball-screens on both sides of the ball-handler with one big rolling and the other popping.

Horns Flare: A half-court Horns set in which the player who screens for the ball-handler comes off an immediate flare screen from a teammate on the opposite elbow.

Horns Twist: A half-court Horns set in which a ball-handler drags out an initial ball-screen toward the sideline before pivoting and using a second ball-screen coming from the middle.

Jayhawk: A quick handoff or pitch pass in transition.

Loop: Loop is a triple staggered screen along the baseline with the guard cutting from one wing to the other.

Pistol: Pistol is when the point guard throw to a player on the wing and cuts around him to get a handoff to drive to the rim at full speed.

Punch: A synonym for a post-up.

Ram: A ram action is when a player sprints directly into a ball screen after cutting off of a screen from another player.

Rip: Rip is a screen set across the lane for a player who just set a down screen.

Rub: A rub screen is a cut right in front of the ball with the ballhandler attacking right behind the action.

Shake: An off-ball movement during pick-and-roll in which an offensive player lifts along the three-point line behind and toward the ball-handler.

Short Roll: A type of cut in which the screener in a ball-screen does not roll to the rim, but instead cuts off his roll around the elbow area looking for an early pocket pass.

Slot: The spot where the three-point line and the line marking the outer edge of the paint would theoretically intersect.

Spain: Spain is a back screen for the ball screener who is rolling to the basket.

Step-Up: A ball-screen set with the screener’s toes perpendicular to the baseline.

Throw-and-Chase: A ball-screen in which a big follows his lateral pass to a ball-handler into a pick-and-roll.

Thumb Down/Up: A half-court set in which a ball-screener receives a down screen from another offensive player before initiating a pick-and-roll with the ball-handler.

Twist: In twist, a ball screen is set and another follows after the initial screener has rolled.

X-Out: A weak-side defensive rotation in which multiple defenders swap matchups to guard open perimeter players, literally creating an “X” in their paths of recovery.

Zipper: The zipper action is a down screen set on the lane line with the cutter moving from the block to the slot.