noun
basketball
A2
Basketball: a masculine noun meaning the sport (basketball) or the physical ball. Plural is Basketbälle (umlaut + -e). Declines as der Basketball, die Basketbälle. Not reflexive and uses no special preposition. Context determines whether it refers to the game or the ball.
Examples
Spielen wir Basketball?
Shall we play basketball?
Am Wochenende spielen wir Basketball im Park.
On the weekend we play basketball in the park.
Die Jugendlichen spielten Basketball, obwohl der Platz nass gewesen war.
The teenagers played basketball, although the court had been wet.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a ball in a basket; the word contains 'basket' + 'ball'.
sounds like English 'basketball' — same sport
der Basketball — imagine a male basketball player (der) holding the ball
Notes
Basketball can refer to the ball or the sport. In German usage you might also hear 'Basketball spielen' (play basketball) or, less commonly, plural forms like 'Basketbälle' for physical balls.