what does cherry picking mean in basketball

In basketball, “cherry picking” refers to a strategy where a player positions themselves near the opponent’s basket, often before their team has secured possession of the ball or after a turnover, in hopes of getting an easy fast-break opportunity. This player typically avoids helping on defense and instead waits for a quick pass to score a layup or easy dunk, taking advantage of the opposing team’s transition defense. Cherry picking can be seen as unsportsmanlike or risky because the player is not actively contributing to the defensive effort, and it leaves their team vulnerable to counterattacks.