What is what does bonus mean in basketball?

In basketball, a bonus refers to a team being awarded free throws as a result of the opposing team committing a certain number of fouls in a given period of play. When a team accumulates a certain number of team fouls (usually five or more) in a quarter or half, the opposing team enters what is known as the bonus situation. This means that, for every subsequent foul committed by the defensive team, the offensive team is awarded free throws regardless of whether the foul was committed during a shooting attempt or not.

There are two types of bonus situations in basketball:

1. The first type is known as the "one-and-one" bonus, where the player who was fouled gets to shoot one free throw. If they make the first shot, they are awarded a second free throw. If they miss the first shot, the ball is live and in play.

2. The second type is known as the "double bonus" or "two-shot bonus," where the player is awarded two free throws regardless of whether they make or miss the first shot.

The bonus system is used to penalize teams for excessive fouling and to give the opposing team an opportunity to score free points from the foul line. It also adds an element of strategy as teams must be mindful of their foul count to avoid giving their opponents easy scoring opportunities.