Basketball is a sport that involves a lot of passing and player interaction, making assists a key part of the game. An assist is a pass to a teammate that directly leads to a score. While the concept of an assist is straight forward, there are some passes or plays that are not considered assists. In this article, we’ll discuss what is not an assist in basketball.
Illegal Screen
An illegal screen is when a player sets a pick and either does not give the defender enough time to react, or moves while setting the pick. This is known as an offensive foul and no points can be scored off of it. As a result, this type of play is not considered an assist.
Foul Shots
While foul shots are an important part of the game, they do not count as assists. Foul shots occur when a player is fouled and awarded two or three free throws. Even if a player passes to a teammate who is then fouled and awarded a foul shot, the pass does not count as an assist.
Offensive Rebounds
Similarly, offensive rebounds do not count as assists. An offensive rebound is when a player grabs the ball after a shot has been missed by their team. If the offensive rebound leads to a score, then the player who grabbed the rebound receives the credit for the score, not the player who passed the ball.
Turnovers
Turnovers are plays where the team loses possession of the ball, usually due to an errant pass or a steal by the defense. While turnovers are important plays in the game, they do not count as assists.
Final Thoughts
Assists are important plays in basketball, as they often lead to points for the team. While the concept of an assist is straight forward, there are some plays that are not considered assists. This includes illegal screens, foul shots, offensive rebounds, and turnovers. Knowing the difference between an assist and other plays can help players maximize their offensive output and help their team succeed.