Pick-and-roll
A two-player basketball move where one player sets a screen for a teammate with the ball, then cuts toward the basket.
Definition
In a pick-and-roll, one player stands still to block, or "pick", a defender so that a teammate holding the ball can get free. Immediately after setting the screen, that player "rolls" toward the basket to receive a return pass.
It is one of the most common set plays in basketball because it forces defenders to make a quick decision: stay with the ball-handler or follow the rolling player. Good spacing and timing between the two players are what make it effective.
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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