Basketball is a highly entertaining sport that people of all ages and ability levels can play and enjoy. There are many great sports in the world today and opportunities for people to get involved as players, coaches or fans.
Here at sportswarrior365, we love many sports and believe there are life lessons that can be instilled in our youth to help their overall development as a young person growing up in today’s world. We also still love to compete as adults because there is nothing like the challenge of testing yourself both physically and mentally in the competition of any sport.
Basketball is no different and many people consider it to be the best sport in the world. Below we will provide our top 11 reasons that we would argue that make basketball the best sport.
What is your favorite sport? We truly have a difficult time deciding because there are many reasons to fall in love with many of the sports we compete in and coach.
Stay around for the Bonus Tips (3) at the end to help you improve your skill level!
Top 11 Reasons Why Basketball is the Best Sport
Reason #1 – Great Exercise
Anytime we are taking the time to play a sport and compete, we want to ensure we are getting a great workout. Basketball might be the best of the best in providing a workout that will leave you fit and in great shape. The cardio involved in basketball is difficult to replicate in other sports.
Even as high school players transition from football to basketball in the late fall and early winter, there is a transition time because basketball places an extra demand on your body from a cardio standpoint.
The ability to run up and down the court and have the legs to explode and jump is difficult to develop, but leaves you in great shape when you get to that point.
The one sport that might compare to basketball from a cardio standpoint is soccer due to the length of the game and the spurts of running that are required as you are making a run for a goal or trying to catch an attacking offensive player as your play defense.
The best way to get into “basketball shape” is to play frequently and for long periods of time. There are frequently open gyms at local high schools or pick up games at the local park.
The calorie burn is fantastic and is estimated at close to 750 calories per hour when playing a full court game. If you are looking to get into shape, it might be time to pull those old basketball shoes out or even better treat yourself to a new pair (who doesn’t love a new pair of basketball shoes) and head to your local court to get in shape and have fun doing it!
Reason #2 – Athletic Ability
Another thing we love about basketball is the athletic ability that can be developed and that the game requires to play a high level. An athlete must be able to run, jump, catch, cut, and maintain hand eye coordination and vision to see the court and hit down open shots.
The athletic ability that it takes to finish a layup at the hoop in traffic is difficult to develop, but amazing once the player gets there. The ability to control the body as the player cuts through the lane, protect the ball and then finish the shot is a highly skilled talent.
The major benefit is that these skills can help kids transfer these other athletic abilities to other sports in a cross training approach.
Also, the court awareness that is developed over the years of playing is important for other sports that athletes might participate in like football and soccer. Both of these games require a high level of court awareness as well.
Some of the best athletes in the world play in the NBA and the amount of athletic ability that they have is truly amazing. Taking in an NBA game and watching the pure athletic ability of the athletes is worth the time. You might not find a more athletic sport. So if a high level of athletic ability is on your list as a player or fan, then basketball is your sport!
Reason #3 – The Slam Dunk
Let’s face it, the slam dunk is an amazing feat. It is estimated that only 1% of the people in the world have dunked, can currently dunk or will ever dunk a basketball on a regulation sized basketball hoop. That is why they made the adjustable hoops you will see in many driveways throughout the country as it is fun to dunk…period!
Who doesn’t love the feeling of taking the ball down the lane, jumping off one foot and throwing the ball down with authority. . Or doing our best drop stop imitation of Shaq and throwing it down with a powerful two handed dunk!
The home run in baseball or the goal in soccer might be the only plays that bring the slam level of excitement to a game. When you consider that only 6.5 dunks per game happen at the NBA level, you can see why the dunk is so exciting when it does happen.
The ability to dunk is truly special and people who have played the game know how difficult it can be. It is one thing to be able to dunk in an empty gym, but being able to do it in a game is at a different level.
The slam dunk contest was amazing when it first started in the NBA and we have been treated with some truly spectacular dunks that brings everyone to their feet!
Reason #4 – The 3 Point Shot
Another fun and impressive play in basketball that makes it the best sport is the 3 point shot. The 3 point shot was added to the NBA in 1979 and then in the college game in 1986. High School basketball then followed a year later in 1987.
The 3 point line has changed the game forever and we would argue for the better. It has brought the importance of a versatile player that can finish at the hoop, but also hit the game changing 3 point shot.
Players like Steph Curry have taken the 3 point shot to the next level with the ability to hit the shot from 4-10 feet behind the line, which has stretched out and stressed out defenses even more.
There is something special about the 3 point shot as it is difficult to make for the average player. It can change a game quickly as it can help a team down by 15 or 20 points get back into the game quickly or help a team up by 10 quickly put the game out of reach.
The swings that happen at the higher levels of basketball bring extra excitement and tension to the game. You will see coaches use timeouts to try to slow a team down and to help settle down their own team.
Reason #5 – The Game Can Be Played Indoors
The winter in many parts of the world is long and cold. This can make it difficult to do anything outside other than to ski or snowboard. Basketball doesn’t take up a ton of space and is easy to have 4-5 games taking place in a field house.
This allows for the game to be played year round, unlike baseball or golf, which can be restricted by the weather outside. Also, from a fan perspective you do not have to deal with the weather conditions while watching a game.
While some people may enjoy those conditions for football, there is something nice about watching a sport in a climate controlled arena. Do not get us wrong, we love baseball on a 70 degree sunny day, but those days are often few and far between.
With a basketball court not taking up a great deal of space, plus the ability to play many games in a space like a field house, youth tournaments are very common during the winter months and one does not have to worry about rain outs or bad weather conditions.
Kids are able to get a great deal of basketball between November and February and then start the AAU season in March. Overall, the indoor nature of basketball is enticing!
Reason #6 – The Game Can Be Played Outdoors
While we love the indoor nature of basketball, the ability for people of all ages to play the game at their local park or school year is a major advantage for the game. Many cities and locations have places where people can play pickup games.
You will often find the courts packed full of basketball players playing some sun up to sun down and even sometimes under the lights. This provides a great athletic opportunity for students to develop their abilities and their skill around basketball through pick up games.
The court awareness and the ability to score can be developed at a high level through repetitions and by competing.
Reason #7 – Cheap to Play
The game only takes a pair of shoes and a basketball. Other sports might require sets of clubs, a bat or even when you get to hockey or football – all of the protective gear. The game is easy to get going in and find people to play against.
The game is also very versatile in how many players it takes to play a game. A game like baseball might take close to 15-18 people to play somewhat of a real game, where in basketball 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 can be just as fun as a 5 on 5 full court game.
The many different formats that can be used allows players to play a great deal of basketball. Also, it is an easy game to practice and improve one’s skill set through practicing ball handling skills or shooting skills. These skills are essential to the overall success and does not take a great deal of instruction, but rather time and reps.
The greatest ball handlers of all time practiced non-stop and had a basketball with them just about every place they went. A sport like golf, baseball or football all require someone else to help you in your journey to either pitch batting practice, give you a high level of instruction in a sport like golf or a others around to improve in football.
Basketball is a great sport to improve upon if you are the only one around and you have a basketball!
“Pistol Pete” was amazing:
Reason #8 – Overall Excitement
The game of basketball is fast paced with slam dunks, three point shots and some physical contact. There are big swings in a game with teams making different runs and the score potentially changing quickly. OVerall, the game has a high level of excitement at all levels of basketball.
Even at the youth level, the game is fast and furious with players all over the place. Tournament facilities are packed with family members and fans watching the youngsters play the game. As the tension rises and the game remains close deep into the 4th quarter, there is an extra level of excitement and pressure that builds.
People are criticizing the official and on the edge of their seat with every pass, shot and rebound. The game is simply exciting!
The NBA has also done a great job of in game entertainment during the time outs. There are always competitions going on, while many might be silly in nature, they catch the attention of the fans.
There are also awesome graphic designs and videos that are played at key times. The level of entertainment is a focus and the NBA organizations have done an excellent job keeping people of all ages engaged the entire time they are in an arena.
Reason #9 – Spectator Friendly
As we go into a little bit above, the game is spectator friendly. It is easy to see a game and understand what is going on. THe main goal – get the ball in the hoop. Sports like football and baseball are a little more difficult to understand and are slower pace.
You rarely go a minute without a basket being made. The action is continuous and plenty of baskets are scored. There is hardly a bad seat in the arena and the digital display boards make it that much easier to follow. The replays are almost instant at the NBA level and the fan is fully engaged.
As someone with kids under 10, having attended NBA, NFL and a MLB game, the NBA game is the most entertaining and packed with engagement. MLB games can be a bit slow and NFL games have a ton of commercial breaks. The NBA is a great option for families form an entertainment angle and from a spectator friendly perspective as well.
Reason #10 – Kids Love It
Kids love to play the game and watch the game. Due to the amount of action constantly taking place, kids are drawn to the game. They are also able to easily see the faces of the stars and youtube has made the game very accessible to learn about and connect with the stars of the NBA.
Many kids play youth basketball, travel basketball and eventually AAU basketball as they try to reach their full potential. From a kid perspective it is easy to gather up some kids in the neighborhood and play or even during recess at school. All you need is a ball and a basketball hoop.
I would say the number one draw to the game is the fast paced nature of the game where there is plenty of action!
Reason # 11 – The NBA and Stars
The NBA has done a great job of marketing their stars. Back to the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era, to the Michael Jordan dominance era, to Shaq and Kobe and most recently to LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and others that have made the game appealing to many, but especially kids of all ages.
The facial recognition is there and they are truly special and are able to separate themselves from the non stars in the NBA due to their skill level or physical domination.
When we finally reach the playoffs in April and then the NBA Finals in June, there are plenty of story lines and due to the 7 game series setup, teams start to really not like each other, which makes the game that much better and even more entertaining.
It becomes must watch TV, whether Michael Jordan is going for his 6th title, Kobe is striving for his 5th title or if you are watching to see if LeBron can lead the Cavaliers back from down 3 games to 1 against a dynasty like the Golden State Warriors. The storylines are fun and engaging and keep you watching!
Bonus Reason – Versatility in Formats
The format options to play the game are widespread. From the traditional 5 on 5 games that are held to only have 4 people and being able to play 2 on 2.
The great thing about basketball is that there are options and plenty of versatility. There are also games like knockout, around the world, and other games that can be played with 2-3 people. Even just standing around a hoop and taking 200-500 shots as your work on your game, the options are numerous and the potential to improve is great!
Tips to Help You Improve
One of the wonderful aspects of growing up in today’s world is the access to instructional videos via youtube for ideas on drills to help us improve our games.
The goal is to work hard, but work smart, seeking out the best information and how to spend your time to see maximum results in your development as a player. Whether you are a player or coach, these drills and tips below just might help you or your team! Check them out!
Ball Handling Drills
5 Shooting Drills to Shoot Like Steph Curry
3 Tips to Jump Higher
Related Questions…
Should I play AAU basketball?
AAU basketball is known as the place where the top players have developed over the years. We would recommend finding out as much information about the team you might play with. What is the practice schedule and the tournaments they plan on participating in.
Unfortunately, there are some coaches or programs that are making some big time money out of the pocket of parents or kids, but there are also many legit AAU programs that can help you get better. The ability to score will be developed and court awareness. However, you must continue to develop your individual skill in ball handling and shooting.
When should I start my kid in basketball?
Many kids can be introduced to the game at around 5 years old. This might be attending a little camp designed for younger kids to introduce ball handling and basic passing skills.
Sports can be great for many reasons, the key is to keep the main goal the main goal and do not get sucked into trying to get your kid a college scholarship. Make sure the game remains fun and that the kid is enjoying the experience.
When should a kid start playing travel basketball?
Many travel basketball programs start in the 3rd grade. This is about the right age when the ball handling has advanced enough and kids can make a basket on a 10 foot rim, even though some shooting forms are pretty weak due to the extra effort it takes to get the ball up there.
The kids with the best ball handling skills and awareness of what is taking place on the court have the most success at this level. Continue to encourage the importance of developing ball handling skills.
Take Action…
If you love sports as much as we do, then get involved in some manner. Whether that is playing, coaching or supporting a youngster in his or her journey with the game of basketball or sports in general.
Sports can be an amazing experience, but it can also turn negative depending on how the adults in the situation behave.
Sports can teach us daily discipline, commitment, teamwork, how to fail, how to win and many intangibles that are then transferred to life and career. Our goal is to support you in your journey here at sportswarrior365. Let’s get started today and work to get better!