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What is a Hooper in Basketball? | Term Explained

You may have heard the term hooper in basketball, and think hooper just means a basketball player nothing else. But it’s not just any type of basketball player.

What is a hooper in basketball? A hooper in basketball is a player who is above average in skill and is one of the best players on the court. The term hooper-hooper is also known as the same thing, A very good to excellent basketball player when compared to the other players.

A hooper isn’t just a basketball player, there are some differences in which hoopers separate themselves from the rest of the ballers.

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Basketball player vs hooper | What’s the difference

“This guy just hit back to back game winners, this Guy’s a Hooper”.

Definition of a Hooper

The term hooper is used as a slang term to describe someone that stands out among the competition and their peers.

A hooper is a player who can play basketball and is easily better than the competition. If you need someone to get a bucket for your team you give the ball to the hooper.

The hooper is an experienced player who everyone knows can play but not only can he play, he is feared by his opponents. 

The term is used in pick-up basketball and non-professional leagues by spectators to describe the talent that separates these hoopers from the average Joes.

The best players on the court are known as hoopers not just a player.

A basketball player can be categorized as anyone that can play basketball no matter their skill level or experience is. You can pick up a basketball and play for the first time and you will be considered a basketball player.

A basketball player knows the rules of the game, plays the game like it suppose to be played, and has the fundamentals necessary to carry them through the game.

Nothing wrong with that but if you are a player that wants to outclass the competition then you to be a hooper.

The Difference?

The difference is that anyone can be just a basketball player but to be a hooper is no easy task. Being considered a hooper is earned and not handed to you.

A hooper spent thousands of hours playing and practicing basketball in order to gain the experience and credibility to attain the hooper status by his peers.

What is a hooper hooper?

When you hear the term twice, hooper hooper it basically means the same as a hooper. The reason for the double word is that many will assume a basketball player is a hooper. It is the context of the way hooper is used. Such as, “This guy is a hooper hooper”.

Someone might describe all basketball players as hoopers regardless of skill level. Saying hooper hooper is the same as saying he’s twice as good as your average basketball player.

When you say it twice it’s over-emphasizing that the player isn’t just your average Joe basketball player, but this player can ball and get buckets.

Hopefully the next time you hear the term hooper you now understand what it actually means, it’s just an easy way to describe a player who can play basketball very well.