What is a Jumper in basketball? | Term Explained!

If you are just starting to play or watch basketball, you may have heard the term jumper thrown around in conversation.

But what exactly is a jumper in basketball? A jumper in basketball is short for a jump shot, it is generally used when a player takes a shot attempt while jumping low or high in the air then shooting the basketball while mid-air.

Now that you know what a jumper is, let’s take look at some examples of when the term is used in basketball.

 

Jump shot = Jumper

Often when you are watching a basketball game on T.V. or your preferred device you will often hear the commentators say “James with the jumper”.

The term jumper isn’t used for athletes who can jump really high, which often can be confused as such.

Some examples of when commentators are using the term jumper:

“Curry dribbles the ball up the court and uses a screen to get open, he shoots the 15-foot jumper”.

 “Durant receives the pass and is wide open, he knocks down the open jumper”.

“Thompson pulls up from the three-point line for the 25-foot jumper”.

Although the jumper is short from jump shot commentators and players alike will still use the term jumper even if a player uses a set shot instead.

Set shots are not the same as jump shots, set shots generally have a smaller hop when shooting the set shot in basketball.

The term jumper is not used to describe a layup or dunk-type shot.

Isn’t the jump shot and set shot the same thing in basketball?

No, the set shot is more of a controlled shot that players use to shoot shot from three-point range or further, it is also used when a player is wide open for a shot.

Set shots have a small hop in the shot, while the set shooter is relatively grounded to the floor or stationary.

A jump shot is different than a set shot and when executed it feels like there are two parts to the shot the first is the jump and the second is the shot.

When players are jump shooting they use forward momentum from their dribble into their shot and pick up the ball and jump first positioning their body squared to the basket.

As they jump in the air they jump around 50 to 90 percent of their max vertical jump. They then shoot the basketball at the hoop.

Jump first, shoot second sequence, using the legs first than arms.

Not always but some players are jump shooters and never shoot set shots such as Ray Allen and Russell Westbrook.

So they may be completely stationary and not moving but shoot the ball with a jump shot instead of an easier approach like a set shot.

Most often you are going to hear the word jumper when players take jump shots more than set shots. 

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the term and its use when it comes to basketball, feel free to take a look around the site.