Clamp
Defensive domination
Example
Did you see Marcus last night? Dude was everywhere on defense
For real—he had that point guard in clamps. Bro couldn’t even breathe with Marcus guarding him
Center with the clamp in the paint
Related Slang
| def | Defense |
| d | Defense |
| dom | Dominate |
| Beast | An awesome person |
| Ballin | Playing sports well |
| Baller | A cool person |
| Hoops | Basketball |
| NBA | National Basketball Association |
| Breaking ankles | Causing a player to stumble |
| Foul bait | Acting to get a foul called |
| Foul merchant | A player known for drawing fouls |
Baseball Slang Quiz: Can you bat 1.000?
Clamp is a sports term, especially popular in basketball, that refers to locking down an opponent with intense, suffocating defense. When someone says a player has "clamps," they mean that player can guard their man so tightly that they're not going anywhere, with no shots, no drives, no hope. The term comes from the idea of literally clamping something shut—no room to move.
The term gained traction in pickup games, streetball circles, and social media during the late 2010s, where highlights of defensive stops were often tagged with "clamps" or "putting the clamps on." Today, you'll hear commentators, players, and fans use "clamp" when a defender is putting on a masterclass of defensive acumen. Whether it's an NBA star like Draymond Green shutting down the opposing team's best scorer or a high school baller getting hyped in a TikTok highlight, having clamps is a badge of defensive pride.