jump ball
noun
: a method of putting a basketball into play by tossing it into the air between two opponents who jump up and attempt to tap the ball to a teammate
also
: a ball put into play in this manner
Examples of jump ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Deep-field throws mostly depended on coverage busts, with Josh Allen extending the play, or jump ball and back shoulder passes with one of their taller receivers who couldn’t separate from their defender.
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Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 21 May 2025
McAlister is a good jump ball threat and a vertical target that can pick up yards after the catch.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025
Only two days earlier, Bridges had tipped a crucial jump ball directly to Hardaway.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
Williams could thrive as a jump ball receiver and getting touches with jet sweeps at the next level.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2025
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Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 21 May 2025
McAlister is a good jump ball threat and a vertical target that can pick up yards after the catch.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025
Only two days earlier, Bridges had tipped a crucial jump ball directly to Hardaway.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
Williams could thrive as a jump ball receiver and getting touches with jet sweeps at the next level.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jump ball
Cite this Entry
“Jump ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20ball. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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