Fake or Feint -- A misleading movement by an offensive player intended to throw a defensive player off balance to make room for a pass or shot. See also “Pump Fake”

Fast Break – When a player makes a “Defensive Rebound” and immediately throws an “Outlet Pass” to teammates at midcourt who then make a quick “Drive to the Basket” in hopes of scoring before the defenders can get into guarding position, the opposite of “Half Court or Set Offense”
 
Field Goal -- The ball passes through the “Basket” during regular game play (not a “Foul Shot”); a field goal can be worth either two or thee points, depending on where the player is standing when he or she makes the shot
 
Finals, NBA -- The National Basketball Association’s championship series between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference finals. The champion is decided in a best of seven (i.e., first to win four) games series, and “Home Court Advantage” for the games is determined like so: The team with the better regular season record hosts the first two games, followed by three games (if all three games are necessary) at the other team’s court, then if needed two more games at the original court
 
Final Four -- The regional champions from the East, West, Southeast and Midwest regions remaining from the original 64 college teams in the “NCAA Tournament.” These remaining four teams play to determine the national champion

Flagrant Foul -- Needless or gratuitous illegal contact made against an opponent
 
Floor – The regulation playing area. See “Court”
 
Floor Violation -- An illegal action that does not harm an opponent or hinder his or her movement; usually results in a possession change. See “Foul.”  
 
Forwards – Two of the players in a traditional 5 position starting lineup, the “Power Forward” and “Small Forward” are generally smaller than the “Center” and larger than either of the two “Guards.” Traditionally the forwards are responsible for the bulk of a team’s closer range scoring and rebounding, though the role of modern forwards is evolving to include more mid range shooting and aggressive defensive responsibilities. The forwards are usually among a team’s top scorers.   

Foul – Breaking the rules  in a way that isn’t a “Floor Violation.”  Depending on the violation (see “Personal Foul” and “Technical Foul”) can be penalized with either a change in possession or the awarding of “Foul Shots”

Foul lane –  The painted area between the end line and foul line (19 feet by 16 feet in the NBA, 19 feet by 12 feet in college). During a “Foul Shot” players must stand outside of this area, and in regular play, offensive players cannot be inside this area for more than 3 seconds at a time. See “Foul Shot,” “Three Second Violation”   
 
Foul Line --  Designates the point  -- parallel to the “Base Line” and 15 feet away from the backboard – from which players must shoot “Foul Shots”
 
Foul Shot – Worth one point if successful, this unguarded shot from the “Foul Line” is taken by a player whose opponent has committed a “Personal Foul” or “Technical Foul.” Also called a “Free Throw”
 
Four-point play -- Under typical circumstances, the highest score possible from one shot: A successful “Three Pointer” followed by a made “Foul Shot.” See “And One”
 
Franchise – A team in the National Basketball Association
 
Franchise Player --  A talented athlete an entire team can be organized around
 
Free Agent, Restricted – In the NBA, a player whose contract expires may receive a “Qualifying Offer” from his current team, which allows that team the chance to match any competing teams’ offers before releasing him. A restricted free agent is allowed to negotiate with other teams but can only leave his current team if they refuse to meet the terms of the competing offer
 
Free Agent, Unrestricted -- After three years in the NBA (four years if the player’s team exercises the option to have him play a fourth season), a player whose contract expires may negotiate an offer with a competing team without giving his current team the option to match that offer  
 
Free-Throw -- See “Foul Shot”
 
Free-Throw Line -- Another term for “Foul Line”
 
Free-Throw Line Extended – An invisible extension of the “Foul Line” to either “Sideline,” mostly used to determine the position of specific “Throw-Ins”   
 
Freezing – When the leading team attempts to keep the ball away from its opponents in an effort to keep them from having the opportunity to score before time expires. Also called the “Keep away Game”
 
Frontcourt -- The portion of court between the “Midcourt Line” and the “Endline” nearest the offense’s basket, as opposed to “Backcourt”  
 
Full-Court Press -- a more aggressive defense in which defenders begin “Guarding” the offense in the “Backcourt,” contrast with “Half-Court Press”.