What Does ISO Mean In Basketball?

In basketball, ISO stands for isolation—an offensive strategy in which two players compete one-on-one in an attempt to score. This strategy is often seen during the last few minutes of the game when the offense hands the ball to the team’s best ball handler to challenge the defender in isolation.

When the ball is handed off to the team’s chosen player, the rest of the teammates will strategically clear out of the way but still be available if needed, creating a one-on-one scoring opportunity. The chosen player has the skills necessary to maneuver the ball around the opponent and get to the basket.

The tactic is rarely used intentionally, more often as a desperate measure in the game’s last minutes.