Middy
Mid-range jump shot
Example
Yo, did you catch that game last night? DeRozan was living in the middy
Dude hit like six straight from the elbow. It’s like he doesn’t even need the three
That’s that old-school bag, bro. Everyone sleeping on the middy these days
Michael Jordan with his iconic middy
Related Slang
| J | Jump shot |
| Jumper | Jump shot |
| Hooper | A skilled basketball player |
| NBA | National Basketball Association |
| Hoops | Basketball |
| ups | Jumping ability |
| Bucket | A made basketball shot |
| Handles | The ability to handle a basketball |
| Rock | A basketball |
| Swish | A made shot in basketball that hits only the net |
| Boards | Rebounds |
| Splash | A made shot that only touches the basketball net |
| Beast | An awesome person |
| Posterize | To dunk on an opponent |
Baseball Slang Quiz: Can you bat 1.000?
Middy is basketball slang for a mid-range jump shot, which is any shot taken outside the paint but inside the three-point line. The term blends “mid-range” and “shot” into a quick, punchy nickname that players, fans, and commentators have adopted to describe a skillful and often underrated scoring move.
While modern basketball tends to favor threes and layups, the middy remains a go-to for players who thrive in the in-between space, such as DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. It carries a bit of old-school respect since mastering the mid-range requires precise footwork and shot mechanics.
Origin of middy
The origin of the slang term “middy” is unclear, but it became popular in the late 2010s and early 2020s, especially among hoopers on social media and in pickup games. Whether it’s a pull-up jumper from the elbow or a fadeaway near the free throw line, dropping a middy is a valuable way to get a bucket that helps keep defenders who are looking to defend against the three and the drive honest.