In traditional 21 if a player goes over 21 their score is automatically reduced back to 11 and they continue to try and get to the exact score of 21.

To win the game a player must accumulate a score of exactly 21 points.

Players that choose to follow traditional basketball rules during the play do so because they want to and not because it is required of them. After the initial rules concerning the hitting of the rim without making a basket there are really no other rules that a player has to follow. Once the ball is shot and hits the rim like it is supposed to all of the players scramble to make a rebound. If the ball does not hit the rim, or if the ball goes through the basket it must be shot again. The ball must hit the rim but cannot go through the basket. The normal rules to the game of 21 has the game start with one player taking a shot with the ball from anywhere on the court. Many people consider this type of basketball to be brutal because fouls are not counted against a player, and sometimes the games become a full contact event filled with violence. In this game each player is playing for themselves and is not considered a part of a team and will not receive any assistance from any other player. The play of the game takes place on half of a court. Generally, when a street game has enough available players to play three on three, they do not play 21, or any variation of the game. This is a form of streetball where the game is played by any number of opponents.

How to play 21 basketball