# HoopSim

> HoopSim is a free basketball general manager simulation game that runs in a web browser, on a phone or a computer. You run one of 30 pro basketball clubs: draft, trade, sign free agents under a salary cap, set the depth chart and the game plan, then every possession of every game is simulated. The other clubs are run by AI general managers that negotiate trades in chat, by your friends in a shared league with a commissioner, or both.

Around the games there is a talking league: an AI coaching staff you can ask for advice, reporters who interview you, a league news feed, player agents, a 3D possession replay and live play-calling. Leagues can use real-style rosters or fully custom rosters with made-up players. There is nothing to download: the phone app installs from the browser, and the same account works on a computer.

Key facts: free to play; runs in the browser on phones and computers (the phone app installs from the browser, it is not in an app store); single-player against AI general managers, or multiplayer leagues with friends; 30 clubs per league; real-style rosters or custom rosters with made-up players; English.

## The game, page by page
- [HoopSim home](https://hoopsim.app/): what the game is and how to start
- [The Engine](https://hoopsim.app/engine): The game engine: every game is played possession by possession from the players' ratings, the depth chart and the game plan, and any game replays in 3D on the Court View.
- [The Front Office](https://hoopsim.app/front-office): The front office: trades that have to match salaries under a cap with aprons and a luxury tax, free agency, the draft lottery and draft, scouting instead of true ratings, and agents who message you.
- [The Media](https://hoopsim.app/media): The media: fictional reporters and parody TV hosts who write league news from your league's own results, interview GMs and run highlights after every sim night.
- [Leagues](https://hoopsim.app/leagues): Leagues: a multiplayer league with friends from one invite link, a commissioner who sets the rules and the sim schedule, AI GMs on every team without a human, or a solo franchise.
- [AI GMs](https://hoopsim.app/ai-gms): AI GMs: the rival teams are run by AI general managers who negotiate trades in chat, counter, say no and explain why; the rules engine values every deal, the AI explains it.
- [The Locker Room](https://hoopsim.app/locker-room): The locker room: players with morale, chemistry and makeup who message their GM, agents who step in, and an AI coaching staff you can ask about lineups, minutes and the cap.
- [Get the app](https://hoopsim.app/get-the-app): how to put HoopSim on a phone, and how it runs on a computer

## How to play (the rulebook)
- [How to play HoopSim](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play): every chapter of the rulebook
- [Game Day](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/game-day): How a game is simulated
- [Depth Chart & Minutes](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/depth-minutes): Slots, minutes, rotation, fatigue
- [Game Plan](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/game-plan): Offense, defense, rotation, fine print
- [Money](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/money): The capologist's manual
- [Trades](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/trades): Deals, picks, deadline, AI GMs
- [Free Agency](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/free-agency): Bids, rounds, signings, re-signing
- [Draft & Scouting](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/draft-scouting): Lottery, draft room, scouting reads
- [Growing Players](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/growing-players): Development, age, training camp
- [Chemistry & Morale](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/chemistry-morale): Locker room, roles, happiness
- [Players & Makeup](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/players-makeup): Makeup, interviews, off-court trouble
- [Injuries](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/injuries): Injuries, fatigue, Inactive, medicals
- [The Season](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/the-season): Phases, playoffs, awards, offseason
- [Points & Side Games](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/points-side-games): PP, Legacy, cards, Reads, The Show
- [Coaching Staff](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/coaching-staff): Coaches, scouts, hiring, budget
- [League Office](https://hoopsim.app/how-to-play/league-office): Commissioner, settings, AI GMs

## Questions and answers
- [HoopSim FAQ](https://hoopsim.app/faq): what it is, what it costs, where it runs, how leagues work

## Glossary
- [Glossary of basketball GM terms](https://hoopsim.app/glossary): salary cap, trades, draft and sim terms, defined

## State of the Game (the column about the sim engine)
- [All columns](https://hoopsim.app/state-of-the-game)
- [Vol. 4: The trade desk got smarter](https://hoopsim.app/state-of-the-game/4): Every AI front office in HoopSim now trades more like a real one: it knows whether it is really contending, prices prospects on what they are becoming, counts money and health, and negotiates with room to talk. Examples inside.
- [Vol. 3: HoopSim, full screen](https://hoopsim.app/state-of-the-game/3): Open HoopSim on a computer and it now fills the window: your team on a wide sheet, Messenger beside it, every page a click away. Here is the tour, with screens and the five things worth knowing.
- [Vol. 2: You can call the game now](https://hoopsim.app/state-of-the-game/2): 1 on 1 puts you in the chair for your own game: one possession at a time, your call against theirs, on the same engine that plays every other night. Here is how it works, and why the box score still counts.
- [Vol. 1: 216 games in, it plays like the league](https://hoopsim.app/state-of-the-game/1): HoopSim's shooting touch is sharp. Scoring tracks the NBA. The work ahead is on shot selection and pace—two things the Engine Lab is measuring now.

## Optional
- [The whole rulebook and FAQ as one text file](https://hoopsim.app/llms-full.txt)
- [Sitemap](https://hoopsim.app/sitemap.xml)