Hi! My son is interested in playing basketball, but I don't know too much about it. Do you know anything about basketball?
Very little honestly. Although my husband played in college and both my boys have played in high school. We are really more of a baseball family. I like that it's one of the limited-contact sports. No football for us! 
My son played baseball for many years, so we're more of a baseball family too! How many players are on a basketball team?
On a basketball team, it's 5 on the court at any given time. But sometimes they play variations, like three-on-three. 
So much smaller than a baseball team! Is basketball split into four quarters or do they play two halves?
I think it depends whether you are talking about high school or college. High school is quarters. I'm sure a lot has changed since the game was first invented back in 1891! 
1891?! Wow! I had no idea basketball has been around that long! What else should I know before he starts playing? So I don't look like a complete newbie, haha!
Well, one critical thing is to know that the objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop that is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court! LOL! Beyond that I'm a little shaky...
I think there are two and three point shots, but I don't know what you need to do to get 3!
Oh, that I know. If the player shoots from behind the three-point line, that's 3. Otherwise, 2 points.