Assist Question

[Gee!]

I have been playing/ watching bball for 23 years. But I cant for the life of me figure out why assists are called dimes. Anyone know why? They keep saying it on ESPN and in starting to get a lil pissed cuz I cant figure it out.

I know its prolly something real simple though, and Ill say oh duh!

 

[Gee!]

Dang, 22 views and not one reply??

 

[stompg]

I don't know for certain but I can tell you what I always thought it derived from.

When Ebonics first started such a rage rappers and R & B singers would be doing an interview and say something like "I want to drop a dime to my homies" which essentially is just giving them a shout out or giving them their "ups". In basketball, the idea of an assist is giving someone their "ups". Therefore it's called dropping a dime.

The original dropping a dime refers to the cost of a public telephone call from a pay phone. You drop a dime in and you can call.

 

[Chaz]

Well this is from the rap dictionary

"To drop a dime", to fink. The term has probably descended from the time when phone calls were 10 cents, and is related to the notion of moving gossip quickly, as one would drop a dime into the phone to make a call.


I think the assists connection is related in a strange way. An assist might be to give someone a dime to make a call. Therefore in the reverse; to make a good pass (an assist) would be "dropping a dime" on someone.

It's the best I can come up with.

 

[Gee!]

Originally posted by stompg
When Ebonics first started such a rage rappers and R & B singers would be doing an interview and say something like "I want to drop a dime to my homies" which essentially is just giving them a shout out or giving them their "ups".

I have never heard this b4, and I have been listening to hip-hop for 20 years. Dropping the dime means snitching to me.

 

[Chaplin]

The term "dime", though, originally came from the drug trade--i.e. a "dime bag" of cocaine back in the 80s (which I believe was like 10 ounces or something). Now what that has to do with the NBA, I don't know. Maybe we should ask newly acquired Sun Keon Clark.

 

[elindholm]

Maybe we should ask newly acquired Sun Keon Clark.

LOL, I completely forgot that he was technically on the team.

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by Chaplin
The term "dime", though, originally came from the drug trade--i.e. a "dime bag" of cocaine back in the 80s (which I believe was like 10 ounces or something).

It was called a dime bag because it cost 10 bucks. 1 ounce of Marijuana would run you ~ 180-200 bucks..... 10 ounces would cost you around $1000.00. Don't be doin nobody's drug deals around here Chaplin

My friend works narco for Mesa P.D.

I aint a pothead focker

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
It was called a dime bag because it cost 10 bucks. 1 ounce of Marijuana would run you ~ 180-200 bucks..... 10 ounces would cost you around $1000.00. Don't be doin nobody's drug deals around here Chaplin

My friend works narco for Mesa P.D.

I aint a pothead focker

Didn't mean to speak for you Ryan.

 

[Gee!]

Well damn, an honest lil question about sports, and now Im looking over my shoulder for the ATF.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I always thought it came from the saying "Buddy (or brother), can you spare a dime?" Giving up a dime or passing the ball - both would be an "assist."

BTW: A "dime" can also be a hottie. Instead of saying a woman is a ten, you can say "she's a dime."

 

[George O'Brien]

Does anyone ACTUALLY know the answer? Of course I find the made up answers much more entertaining.

 

[Gee!]

Well, at least I feel better knowing Im not the only one who doesnt know the answer.