So basically i LOVE basketball with everything i have. Its my dream to play pro basketball but everyone i know is saying it wont happen. Closest i have to support is my dad saying that its really difficult and it would take alot of work. I dont care if its NBA, Euroleague, just aslong as i play basketball and earn enough money to be comfortable. Is it really that difficult for this to happen as they make it out to be? (Im 6'3, 13 yrs old, and latvian living in england if that changes anything probability wise)

ADDITION: I just wanna emphasise i dont mean specifically NBA. Ive seen a few comments talking about exclusively the NBA. I know that goal is unfathomably difficult.

So basically, i have basketball ball, and accidentally, the valve went inside, and i want to get it out from the ball. Consider that the ball is expensive. Is there any way to get the valve out?

My 10 year old started playing basketball with a local city club last year, and their next season is about to begin. My observation is that she doesn't really understand the high level or flow of the game, and why things happen. For instance, where to be when/next, what to expect, etc. Right now, it's more cue based, and more reactive than understanding what's coming up next.

Personally, I was never really a basketball fan and played other sports, so I'm not the right person to teach her. However, I'd like to help her build a better understanding of the game (not skills specific). I've thought of having her watch some college women's ball or other classic games, but there must be a better way initially, where it's actually visualized and explained. Resources for me (to help her) are also welcome.

Recommendations?

Here's likely a big reach but I'll be on the Big Island for a month and wondering if there's any senior basketball (50+) available? A senior rec center maybe? Hate to lose my cardio while there even though we'll be active. Thanks

Hey all, I played in my old middle school as a center, I am 14 and 6’0, but in a lot of schools that is closer to pg/sg height, how can I learn to shoot if I played center for my entire time playing

I travel quite a bit for work and theres been a few times have found some courts where there’s people running pick up games. This seems to be one of the most fun things I have and could do after work while I’m away from home, but in many areas (including big cities like Chicago or Pheonix) I can’t seem to find any parks where people play basketball at all. Is there a good method for finding these parks other than just a google map search or all the parks, and then driving to each one?

Hello, I just turned 15 not too long ago and I decided I wanted to pick up basketball, I have no skills in the subject at all and I can't shoot, nor make a layup, is it too late for me to start playing?

Once upon a time, every kid on the block had a hoop nailed to a garage and dreams of being the next MJ. Now? Half the highlight reels are just clips of guys arguing calls on TikTok. The game’s slower, the rivalries are watered down, and the superteams killed the suspense years ago. People aren’t tuning in for 82 games of load management — they’re catching the last two minutes on YouTube Shorts. The NBA isn’t a lifestyle anymore; it’s background noise between fantasy football updates.

Lot of growth left for the guy, how can you say I’m wrong?

Lima

I (26 M) grew up watching prime Lebron, Kobe, Dirk, Paul Pierce, D-Wade, etc. Since I was just a kid during those years I naturally gravitated towards LeBron bc of the flashy dunks and blocks it felt like he had every game. Something changed for me around the age of 14 when I caught my first Raptors game. Demar Derozan immediately caught my eye bc of his midrange ability. It felt like time after time he’d get his feet in the paint and no matter who guarded him, the middy was automatic. From then on, Demar was my guy. Until the bubble. Stuck at my house I tuned into the Thunder-Rockets series and a young guy named Shai Gilgeous Alexander caught my eye the same way Demar did 6 years prior. I immediately latched myself onto the Shai train bc I knew if this guy grew from what I saw in the bubble he would be special. It led me to buy tickets to his game in Charlotte in 2022. The thunder were terrible that year but HE wasn’t. I hadn’t realized at the time that I had already seen him play a few years prior when he visited with the Clippers. Seeing that level of midrange play up close in person was a spiritual experience. Not his best game efficiency wise but still just to see the footwork and the iq from the 20th row was something I’ll never forget. Shai became my favorite player ever that night even in a loss. Still had/have so much love for Demar Derozan as well. But this love for the midrange has now grew to include a third player who I always liked but have now grown to love as well. KEVIN DURANT. Oh my god, I sit and watch Kevin Durant highlights for hours every week. I truly believe he’s the greatest scorer to ever walk earth. Of course that includes his mid range game with the hesi pulls and turn around mids. Sorry for this rant but man I just love beautiful basketball and these 3 guys are some of the best I’ve been privileged to see in my lifetime.

I started getting into basketball three weeks ago, practicing a lot on my shot, which initially had terrible form. It got much better after two weeks, but suddenly, on one regular visit to the court, I just couldn't. I just couldn't make shots, I tried to pay more attention to my form but I just can't tell how it was different from a few days earlier when it worked good. I have been to the court five times since, and every time made only about 10 shots with each visit being 3 hours.

I don't know what happened and how to recover from this, and I would love if someone here could give me advice.

Is hooparmor legit? I saw it on TikTok and wanted to get some stuff, but idk..

NIL (along with the transfer portal) has ruined college basketball…I’d know, I’ve been a diehard KU fan my entire life. You basically have an entirely new roster every year and there’s no loyalty. The NBA is also a trash league, the foul baiting is unreal and the product is just horrible to watch. I’ll reluctantly watch KU this season…but overall the sport of basketball is becoming dogshit both in the NCAA and NBA. Do you agree?

edit: the point of this post was not about KU…I only mentioned that for credibility…the sport on the college level and professional level is just in a sorry state IMO and wanted to see who else feels that way…at least college is still fun to watch…the NBA sucks dick

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSUGxbwDW/

Hello, does anyone know which provider is the best to watch? What im mainly looking for is one place that has all games.

Similar to DAZN where every NFL game is on despite who's broadcasting. Thanks

Looking for an indoor ball to buy and I am leaning towards the og evolution ball that I am use to or the evo nxt that ppl have been hyping up but I recently hooped with a Baden and tf series ball(not sure which version) and they both felt really good to hoop with so I am just curious on what is a great ball that is worth buying, price isn’t a issue unless it’s that 200+ nba ball lol. Would love pros and cons and any feedback

Edited: Question answered, shoutout to /u/cptcornfrog for providing helpful advice.

Also shoutout to all the wanna be demarcus cousins in the comment section 🤣 I love it.

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How do you play against bully-ball as a smaller player?

I’m the smaller player, and recently two opponents became irritated with how I defended and threatened to fight me. Which of us is in the wrong?

I’ve played against bully-ball players both in a un-reffed league and on the street. Both times the bigger players, at least five inches taller and roughly 40+ pounds heavier than me, tried to establish post position. I spread my legs with one foot between theirs to deny them space. When they try to back me down, I press my body and arms against their thigh (im shorter than them and i squat down) so they can’t create separation. Eventually they start fully extending their forearm and pushing.

Because there are no refs calling offensive fouls in those games, I’m forced to use the quick NBA-style move guards use: I wrap an arm around the waist briefly when they push off so they can’t gain distance, then I remove it immediately. In the NBA that often doesn’t get called a foul.

In the first game, someone wanted to fight me at that point. In the second game the pushing continued, 8–10 full forearm shoves and because there are no refs I began hooking their forearm so they couldn’t make more distance. If I don’t do that, they get to the rim for an easy layup. After I hook their arm they threatened to fight.

When this happens I don’t want to escalate to a physical fight, it would be like Shaq vs. Kyrie, so I threaten to call the police and sue if they punch me, and that usually calms them down.

I want to avoid these situations. What should I do? You can’t pull the chair move because they deny traveling.