We all know that the mecca of basketball, although some will disagree, is none other than New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Naturally, the mecca for streetball wouldn’t be too far off. Not far at all in this case as Harlem’s Rucker Park has claimed this honor for multiple decades now. But despite the fact that the famed uptown court has allowed ballers across the globe to elevate their game to legendary levels, the blacktop that hosts the world renowned EBC Classic at the Pologrounds, is one that may not be so monumental compared to some of the world’s newest and craziest street court designs. *gasp* BLASPHEMY! Yea, I said it! Take away the glitz and glamor and perhaps some of the hype that keeps the Rucker at pole position for hoopers worldwide, you will come to find and love some of the more than impressive courts that you wouldn’t mind hoopin’ on yourself . Now, this piece is not an attempt at dethrowning the ‘King of Courts’ by no means, but to pay homage to some of the other potentially legendary concrete playgrounds you have yet to hear of.
Starting off with the one streetball event that takes the cake when it comes to the world of concrete hoops in Europe. No, not because it is hosted by yours truly, but because you won’t find a better gene pool of quality players, men, women and kids, across the continent than at #ShutUpAndPlay. The annual summertime competition isn’t just any ole 3-day hoopfest…it is much more. Anyone who wants to call themselves the champ of these courts must win not once, not twice, but trice at 3 different locations (Cologne, Munich & Berlin). Each location offers a full blown 3-day tournament producing Germany’s finest streetballers, pro hoopers and dunkers. Say what you want, but hoopin’ with us, you really gotta bring it and #ShutUpAndPlay!
Slam Dunk Contest (Photo: Christian Trojan)
The crowd was going wild (Photo: Ron Pierre Kehler)
Sticking to our hometown, the battle for bragging rights in Munich is relentless. Trust us when we say that this event proves itself to be the hardest faught title in the half-court arena of streetball. At Park Authority in order to be able to claim “king of the court” honors you gotta get down and dirty and maybe even behead some folks king-style. Okay, maybe not literally, but we’ve definitely had some broken fingers and noses on the path to success here.
Another tournament that has made man-sized news since the late 2000s is Quai 54. Jordan Brand might have one or two things to do with it, given that the festivities include several special and exclusive releases only to be had at its place of origin — Paris, France. You may have seen the images, you know, the ones of people draped in Jordan products hooping it up against the Eiffel Tour in the background.
Moving right along to Postojna Cave Court in Slovenia. During Eurobasket’s 2013 campaign across the eastern parts of Europe, BEKO redefined the meaning of indoor hoops by setting up shop in a limestone cave. We’re not too sure how safe this is given those ungodly levels of humidity combined with a slick surface for a floor, but we do know that there will be plenty of folks on skates during these half-court competitions.
Taking it to the mecca, just a quick train ride and up the street from Rucker Park, Dyckman courts in Manhattan’s far north district has an equally competitive level of play with a unique uptown twist to its gritty NYC scenery. Behind the west side basket of the court, just beyond the backboard, you get to be distracted by the 1 Train arriving and leaving from Inwood’s 207th Street station while shooting your free bees. It doesn’t get any more authentic than this…that is, until you hop on that particular downtown-bound train and don’t get off until you hit Greenwich Village in the city.
Still within city limits, ‘The Cage’ has been home to many a great players. However, this court isn’t notorious for having internationally revered staple players like the Rucker’s Skip To My Lou, though, Skip, without a doubt, has earned his stripes on this particular court in the Village as well. Perhaps the reason why most big names ring elsewhere is due to the fact that the close quarters basketball game wrapped in a mesh fence is somewhat reminiscent of ice hockey minus the puck and cold temeratures. Avoiding games at ‘The Cage’ is definitely in a hooper’s best interest when going for a long-lasting streetball career injury-free summer.
Across the boroughs in BK, the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge Park has arguably one of the most scenic NYC courts right there on Pier 2. Since its opening in 2014, basketball industry leaders have used these courts with its undeniable and remarkable city skyline backdrop to pump anything from signature athletes to marketing their latest products. Catching a game there at sunset is aything but romantic when getting hit with a sweaty screen, but will be an unforgetable experience nonetheless.
Continuing domestically, and although this particualr court doesnt have a home, it might be best known for exactly that reason. The ‘Carrier Classic’ was a short-lived annual collegiate basketball game in honors of our armed forces, played on a…you guessed it…an aircraft carrier. Only in Murica will you be able to find a Top 25 NCAA Division-1 game wedged in between star-spangled awesomeness and camoflauge. Unfortunately, we were only able to witness a few games of the military-themed basketball craze during 2011 & 2012 and even though this is neither a blacktop nor a streetball game, this court and it’s outdoor uniqueness deserves our nomination.
Finishing up our world tour with two stops in the continent that seems to have an insatiable passion for the game, indoors and outdoors alike. Asia has been the gracious host of the NBA’s biggest names provided that Asia makes up the biggest market share in the world. Don’t believe it? You will after seeing ‘Emperor’s Court’ in the Forbidden City, China. I mean, Obama installing a court on the lawn of the White House is one thing, but being able to hoop on the court of the Imperial Palace from the Ming Dynasty is something completely different.
The next and final stop draws some serious familiarities to the courts in our mecca. Boxed in by project buildings — somehow streetball doesn’t feel right unless there’s a huge housing unit in immediate proximity, does it?! Tenement Court in Manila, Philippines was at one point an abandoned parking garage that has been taken over by more than 5,000 displaced families. At the heart of it, a safe haven for kids in the form of a basketball court and the occasional marketing campaign location for King James, Kobe Bryant and Paul George.
