Clamp

What does clamp mean in basketball?

Defensive domination

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.

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

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Updated April 29, 2025

Clamp definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

This page explains what the slang term "Clamp" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.

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