The office staff play a basketball game against the warehouse workers in which Jim shows off to impress Pam and upstage her fiancee who is on the opposing team.
WAR
53.9
Wins Above Replacement
“Basketball” ranks #180 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 80.1 — Elite. The episode packs 67 scored jokes at 3.7 per minute, averaging 6.9 on craft and 6.7 on impact, with Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Michael: Michael says 'their jaws just drop to the floor' then pauses and adds: 'African-Americans. Um...' and trails off
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael · Stanley: Stanley: 'I heard it.' (re: Michael saying 'of course' about himself) — Michael: 'I heard it that time.' — quiet acknowledgment of his own double standard
Michael: Michael's closing talking-head: 'The great thing about sports is that it is all about character. And you can learn lessons about life even if you don't win. But we did because we were ahead.'
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: Michael's talking-head mid-game: 'I'm in the zone. What's with me today? Who am I? Am I Michael Scott? I don't know. I might just be a basketball machine. What's Dunder Mifflin? I've never heard of it. Filing, paperwork? Who cares? Possible downsizing. Um... Well, that's... that's probably going to happen, actually.'
Michael Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael · Stanley: Michael's team selection: 'Stanley, of course.' — Stanley: 'I'm sorry? Um... What do you play, center? Why "of course"?' — Michael: 'Uh... What's that supposed to mean? I don't know. I... I don't remember saying that.'
Standout Moments
Michael: Michael says 'their jaws just drop to the floor' then pauses and adds: 'African-Americans. Um...' and trails off
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael · Stanley: Stanley: 'I heard it.' (re: Michael saying 'of course' about himself) — Michael: 'I heard it that time.' — quiet acknowledgment of his own double standard
Michael: Michael's closing talking-head: 'The great thing about sports is that it is all about character. And you can learn lessons about life even if you don't win. But we did because we were ahead.'
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback All Jokes — 67 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael · Ryan: Michael and Ryan doing a 'secret sign' handshake greeting that is clearly not secret at all and slightly awkward
Michael: Michael's talking-head: 'I play basketball every weekend... I start messin' around. And, uh, I'm sinkin' a few. You know? Swish, swish, swish. Nothin' but net. And, uh, their jaws just drop to the floor.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Michael · Dwight: Dwight privately lobbies Michael to be on the basketball team; Michael references 'Todd Packard' and vouching for Dwight at a pick-up game as the reason he can't play
Michael: 'The hand strikes and gives a flower.' — Michael's non-sequitur Zen aphorism before telling Dwight he can't play
Michael · Dwight: Michael calls Dwight his 'Assistant Regional Manager'; Dwight corrects him — 'Assistant to the Regional Manager'; Michael says 'Same thing'; Dwight: 'No, it's lower, so...' Michael: 'It's close.'
Dwight · Jim: Dwight, newly empowered to assign Saturday work, immediately selects Jim
Jim: Jim's talking-head: 'God, this is so sad. This is the smallest amount of power I've ever seen go to someone's head.'
Jim Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Pam: Pam's talking-head: 'Maybe I should sleep with him. I'm kidding. Kidding. Totally kidding.'
Pam Cringe/Discomfort Deadpan/Understatement Michael: Michael: 'Managing... by walkin' around!' said to no one in particular as he strides purposefully through the office
Michael: Michael: 'This is our warehouse, or as I like to call it, the "whoorehouse." But don't you call it that. I've earned the right.'
Michael Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Michael · Darryl: Michael introduces the foreman: 'This is the foreman, Mitta Rogers.' — 'That's not my real name.' — 'It's Darryl. Darryl is Mitta Rogers.' — Extended chain: Darryl Rogers → Darryl Philbin → Regis → Rege → Roger → Mitta Rogers
Michael · Roy: Michael to Roy: 'You still gettin' it regular, man? Huh? I mean, I can tell her it's part of the job.'
Pam: Cut to Pam on the phone arguing a warranty claim on her toaster oven
Pam Visual Gag Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Michael · Darryl: Michael accuses Darryl of 'chickenin' out' and 'bailin'' when Darryl says they have a 1:15 truck going out
Michael · Dwight: Michael to his team: 'But you would follow me to the ends of the earth, grumblin' all the way. Like that, uh, dwarf from Lord of the Rings.' — Pause — Dwight: 'Gimli.' — Michael: 'Nerd. That is why you're not on the team.'
Dwight: Dwight: 'Just tryin' to be helpful. I'll help. I'm a dragon slayer. Uh, ten-point power sword. Voom! Voom! That's him.'
Dwight Character Comedy Absurdist Callback Michael · Stanley: Michael's team selection: 'Stanley, of course.' — Stanley: 'I'm sorry? Um... What do you play, center? Why "of course"?' — Michael: 'Uh... What's that supposed to mean? I don't know. I... I don't remember saying that.'
Kevin · Michael: Kevin: 'I have a sports bra.' — Michael: 'No, no! Ridiculous!'
Michael · Ryan: Ryan is described as having 'a lot of passion, a lot of heart' — Ryan's response: 'But I'm getting paid to skip lunch, right?'
Michael: 'Hoo, hoo, hoo.' — followed by Michael's cheerful 'Close!' — implied near-miss practice shot that clearly wasn't close at all
Michael · Phyllis: Various staff members offer themselves for the team. Phyllis: 'I can help out if you need me.' Michael: 'I will use your talents come baseball season, my friend. Or if we box.'
Michael · Dwight · Jim: Dwight lobbies to be 'assistant team manager' — Michael: 'No, I am the team manager!' — Dwight: 'Assistant team manager?' — Michael: 'No.' — Dwight: 'Okay, we'll see who's working this weekend then.' — Michael immediately: 'Jim, you're in charge of the vacation schedule now.'
Pam · Michael: Pam to Michael as he practices shots: 'Please don't throw garbage at me.' — Michael: 'Oh, Pam with a zinger!'
Michael · Pam: Michael asks Pam to be cheerleader with 'pigtails, little halter top... tie that up... something a little youthful, for a change, just this once.'
Michael: Michael to Meredith: 'Just try not to be too gay on the court. And by gay, I mean... you know, not in the homosexual way at all. I mean the, uh, you know, like the bad at sports way.'
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Unknown: Response to Michael's explanation: 'I think that goes without saying.'
Unknown Deadpan/Understatement Irony/Sarcasm Callback Angela · Unknown: Michael suggests Angela might cheerlead — someone responds 'Oh, yuck! That's worse than you playing.'
Michael: Michael telling Angela she's an 'alternate in case somebody gets hurt': 'Blessed be those who sit and wait.'
Michael: Michael to someone unexpected arriving in the break room: 'You made it! Suit up. You're on the team!'
Michael Misdirection Character Comedy Michael: Warehouse worker getting tea is accused of being 'a spy from the warehouse.' Michael: 'He's runnin'! He's runnin'! He's runnin', but he can't hide, because you know what? 1:00, you better bring your A game.'
Michael · Darryl: Darryl: 'Why don't we make it more interesting? Loser buys dinner at Farley's.' — Michael: 'You know what, I'm gonna take that one step further. Loser works on Saturday.'
Darryl: Darryl, clearly regretting the whole thing, quietly says 'No...' after Michael announces the Saturday bet
Darryl Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Callback Darryl: After a beat of hesitation, Darryl says 'You on.' — followed immediately by 'Don't screw this up.' (whispered to his own guys)
Darryl Character Comedy Escalation Michael: Michael's talking-head: 'Classic beginner's mistake, eating before a game. Tck!'
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Unknown: Cut to: 'Has anyone seen the first aid kit?' — asked before the game has even started
Unknown Setup/Punchline Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Dwight: Dwight to the first aid kit seeker: 'How many times have I told you? I'm the safety officer. Not you.'
Dwight Character Comedy Running Gag Ryan: Ryan's talking-head: 'Basketball was kinda my thing in high school. And I'm... Yeah. I'm looking forward to playing. You know, I think I'm gonna impress a few people in here.'
Ryan Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Jim · Pam: Jim's conversation with Pam: He offers to take her to the outlet mall on Saturday 'if Roy has to work, which he will, because I'm also competitive' — then: 'I think I'll see you at the mall.' 'Yeah.'
Jim Pam Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Jim · Pam: Pam: 'Um, I think I'm gonna be up at the lake.' Jim: 'I think I'll see you at the mall.' / 'Yeah.'
Jim Pam Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: Michael pre-game speech: 'Listen, this is just going to be a friendly game, right? We are all on the same team here. The Dunder Mifflin team. Of course, if you beat us, you're fired.' — [pause] — 'That's a joke.'
Michael Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Michael: Michael's matchup assignments: 'Ryan, you have Darryl. I have Roy.' — then: 'Dwight, you have the East German gal.'
Michael · Dwight: Michael: 'We'll be skins.' — Dwight immediately takes his shirt off — Michael: 'Come on, Dwight.' — Dwight: 'What? Shirts, on or off?' — Michael: 'On. Just put it on.'
Michael · Roy · Pam: Michael to Pam for the jump ball: 'Pam, you kind of have your foot in both camps here. Why don't you do the jump ball?' — Roy: 'Don't listen to him, Pam. Tip it my way or you're sleeping in the car.'
Stanley: Stanley aggressively tips the ball — reaction: 'Stanley!' and 'You gotta be kidding me!' — Stanley apparently tips it to the warehouse team despite being on the office team
Stanley Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Michael: Michael's talking-head mid-game: 'I'm in the zone. What's with me today? Who am I? Am I Michael Scott? I don't know. I might just be a basketball machine. What's Dunder Mifflin? I've never heard of it. Filing, paperwork? Who cares? Possible downsizing. Um... Well, that's... that's probably going to happen, actually.'
Michael Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael: Michael dribbling with elaborate trash talk: 'Where you at? Where you at? Where you at? Uh. Oh. You over there? I'm over here. Yeah. Mm. Here. Uh. That is cool. Is that like the robot?'
Michael Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Dwight: Dwight: 'Yeah! In your face!' — Other player: 'Yeah, like that counted.' — a disputed basket immediately negating Dwight's celebration
Dwight Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Michael: Michael to Dwight during a time-out: 'Football is like rock and roll. And basketball is like Jazz, you know? It's in the pocket.'
Michael: Michael attempts what appears to be a Harlem Globetrotter-style trick shot or move — the transcript just reads 'Harlem Globetrotter.'
Michael Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Michael: Time-out: Michael: 'What's goin' on? What is goin' on? You guys are playing like a bunch of girls.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Time-out. Michael berates everyone: 'You guys are playing like a bunch of girls.' Decides to take Roy himself.
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael · Jim: Michael to Jim after a hard foul: 'You all right, Jim? Suck it up. He's afraid of you now.'
Michael: After Jim takes another hit: 'Oh, how much does it hurt? How much does it hurt?' — asked gleefully as though this is exciting rather than concerning
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael · Dwight · Jim: Dwight fouls his own teammate (Jim) — Michael: 'Same team, Dwight.' — Dwight: [no response implied, just continuing]
Dwight: Dwight accidentally scoring for the warehouse team and celebrating alone: 'Yes! Yeah! Yeah! In your face!'
Dwight Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael: Michael ends the game by calling a foul and declaring it over — insists whoever was ahead wins — discovers it was the warehouse team — cheerfully announces: 'Great. I mean, I guess you guys working Saturday.'
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Michael: Michael ends the game to protect Jim: 'Game over! Game over! Game over! That is it... We were having a friendly game. It's a shame. This is a damn shame. But, you know, we're like a family here and that's just... that won't fly.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Warehouse workers pressing Michael on the Saturday bet — Michael: 'You guys believed me?' pause 'Come on. Dawgs, you know, you should know me better than that.'
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Michael: Michael: 'Do you think that would've been good for morale? No. No. No. Exactly. No. I'm embarrassed it was even that close. No, of course, we're coming in Saturday.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Roy · Pam: Roy's talking-head where Pam sees Roy talking to someone ('looks good'); Roy notices her watching and says 'Hey baby' — then someone comments: 'Look at Larry Bird. Larry legend.'
Roy Pam Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Roy · Unknown: Roy looking at Pam's injury or exhaustion: 'Let's get you into a tub.' — immediately followed by someone else also saying 'Yeah, let's get you in a tub.'
Michael: Michael post-game: 'You know what? Screw corporate. Nobody's coming in tomorrow. You have the day off.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Michael: Michael announces to the warehouse staff: 'You know what? Screw corporate. Nobody's coming in tomorrow. You have the day off.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Darryl: 'Like coming in an extra day is going to prevent us from being downsized.' — Darryl's quiet line after Michael's announcement
Darryl Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — The Office
