jump shot

American  

noun

Basketball.

1. a shot with one or both hands in which a player leaps into the air and shoots the ball at the basket at the moment of reaching the highest point of the leap.

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jump shot British  

noun

1. basketball a shot at the basket made by a player releasing the ball at the highest point of a leap

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Etymology

Origin of jump shot

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

What if the man with perhaps the prettiest/deadliest jump shot in the history of basketball had come up during the three-point era?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

But NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

He honed a pinpoint midrange jump shot and studied opposing offenses to know exactly where to grab steals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

It’s paid off in improved ballhandling and a smoother jump shot.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025

Sometimes, Pop would park his wheelchair at the end of the driveway and sip a beer as he watched me perfect my jump shot.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick