A fast break is a quick offensive attack launched immediately after a rebound, steal, or made basket, before the defence can set itself.
The fast break is basketball at full sprint. It begins with a change of possession and a decision: push the ball immediately, attack while the defence is still turning around, and finish before the half court defence exists. The classic structure is numerical, three attackers against two defenders, two against one, with trailers filling the lanes for second chances.
Whole eras are named for it. Showtime, the 1980s Lakers' style, was a fast break philosophy built on Magic Johnson taking rebounds himself and throwing the outlet pass ahead of the defence, and run and gun systems ever since have tried to score inside the first seconds of the shot clock rather than against a set defence.
The break's enemies and enablers are both in this glossary: turnovers and defensive rebounds start breaks, transition defence and the deliberate foul exist to stop them. Coaches chart points per break because the break is the most efficient offence in the sport when it works, an unguarded layup line. Quiz questions about famous running teams are fast break questions, and the finishers they name are usually the wings who filled the outside lanes.
In use"The steal triggered a fast break, three on two, finished with a layup at the other end."