Gifts for Basketball Fans: For the Couch, the Driveway and the Gym
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 19 hand-picked ideas
Basketball fans come in two overlapping types. There are the watchers, who know every trade rumor, have strong views on who belongs on the all-time starting five and will stay up for a West Coast game that tips off at 10:30 Eastern. And there are the players, from the teenager shooting in the driveway after dark to the forty-something who still shows up for Wednesday night pickup. Many people are both, but the best gifts usually serve one side or the other.
This guide is organized that way. It starts with books and collectibles for the fan, then hoops sized for bedrooms, offices and kids. In the middle is a short note on jerseys and sneakers, the two most popular basketball gifts and the two easiest to get wrong. Then come gifts for serious players and a run of small gym-bag extras.
Their shoe collection might deserve its own gift; see gifts for sneakerheads. If they follow soccer too, try gifts for soccer fans, and for gamers who play basketball on a console, see gifts for gamers.
Know exactly who it's for?
Tell Truly about them in a sentence. You'll get ideas picked for them, each with a reason why.
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For watching, arguing and collecting
Basketball fandom runs on opinions and history. These gifts give a fan more of both, plus a way to show off the things they've collected along the way.
- 1
The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons
~$20
A huge, funny, opinionated history of the NBA with rankings of the greatest players and plenty of footnoted tangents. It's made for the fan who loves a debate, and they'll disagree with half of it, which is part of the fun. It focuses on the pro men's game up to its publication, so it suits fans who enjoy basketball history.
- 2
Basketball Trading Card Blaster Box
~$35
A sealed box of packs with the chance of rookie cards, inserts and numbered parallels. Opening packs is a small thrill for teens and adult collectors alike, and it's a fun way to share a moment if you open them together. It's a lottery, so present it as fun, not an investment.
- 3
Sports Card Display Binder
~$30
A padded zip binder with sleeves that keep cards flat and protected. If they've started collecting, it beats a shoebox, and it's the natural companion to a blaster box. Serious collectors who grade cards will want hard cases for their best ones, but a binder still holds everything else.
- 4
Sports Memorabilia LED Display Case
~$80
A clear case with soft lighting for a signed ball or another keepsake. It's a strong gift for a fan who has an autographed basketball sitting on a shelf collecting dust. Measure the item first; a full-size ball needs a cube made for it.
Hoops for every room
Not every hoop needs a driveway. These fit bedrooms, offices, game rooms and small kids, and they get people shooting who'd never pick up a real ball.
- 5~$25
Portable Tabletop Basketball Hoop
A small over-the-door hoop with a soft ball. Ideal for a dorm, office or teen's room, and quiet enough not to drive anyone crazy.
Sports FansBasketball Fansfun - 6~$130
Arcade Basketball Game for Home
Two hoops, a scoreboard and mini balls that fold away. It makes family game night loud and competitive in the best way.
Basketball FansSports Fansfun - 7~$70
Adjustable Height Kids Basketball Hoop
A freestanding hoop that adjusts for little kids, so they can make shots and stay keen. Great for a basement or patio.
Basketball FansSports Fansfun - 8~$120
Wall-Mounted Basketball Hoop with Backboard
A real backboard and breakaway rim that mount on a garage wall. Check the wall can take the bolts before you buy.
Basketball FansSports Fanspractical
Jerseys and sneakers: read this first
A jersey seems like the obvious basketball gift, and it can be, but players change teams all the time. A shirt bought in October can feel out of date by the trade deadline. If you go this route, choose a franchise legend or a player who has just signed a long contract, check their size and buy from their team's official store. A classic throwback of a retired star is often the safest jersey of all.
Basketball shoes are even trickier. Players care about fit, cushioning, ankle support and, for a lot of fans, which signature line they're wearing. Unless they've told you exactly which model and size they want, a gift card is kinder. If you have a bigger budget, tickets to a game, whether NBA, WNBA or their local college team, are the gift fans remember. Many also pay to stream out-of-market games, so ask whether that's on their wish list.
For players who live on the court
For the kid who shoots until the streetlights come on, or the adult in a weekly league, these are about more reps and a better feel for the ball.
- Our favorite9
Portable Adjustable Basketball Hoop System
~$250
A full driveway hoop on a base that fills with water or sand, adjustable down from regulation 10 feet for younger players. It's the gift that brings the neighborhood over and lasts through years of growth spurts. Sand makes the base heavier and won't freeze in winter. Check any HOA rules and plan on an afternoon of assembly with a helper.
- 10
Basketball Return Net Attachment
~$40
A net that hangs under the rim and sends made and missed shots back to the shooter. It roughly doubles the shots they can take in a session, since they're not chasing the ball down the driveway. A clever, modest gift for a player who practices alone.
- 12
Official Size Indoor Outdoor Basketball
~$28
A tougher ball with deep channels that handles both the driveway and the gym. It's the right everyday ball for a player whose old one has gone bald and slippery, and it's inexpensive enough to keep one in the car.
- 13
Basketball Shooting Form Trainer
~$22
A small aid that guides the hand into proper shooting position. It's best for younger players still building their form, and for parents or coaches helping them. Experienced shooters will find it gets in the way.
Gym bag extras
Cheap, practical, and nice to have spares of. These work as stocking stuffers or add-ons to a bigger gift.
14.Basketball Compression Shooting Sleeve ~$14
The arm sleeve teens see on pro players. Half style, half warmth for shooting arms in a cold gym.
15.Basketball Ankle Brace Support Pair ~$22
Lace-up braces with side supports for players who've rolled an ankle before. They slip inside most basketball shoes.
16.Basketball Hand Pump with Needles ~$12
A gym-bag pump for the flat ball that always shows up right before pickup starts. Needles go missing, so spares help.
17.Replacement Basketball Net ~$10
A fresh net makes a tired driveway hoop look new and gives that satisfying swish back. Cheap and fun to hang.
18.Basketball Dribble Goggles Training Aid ~$15
Goggles that block the view of the ball, forcing young players to dribble with their heads up. Fun to try, too.
19.Basketball Coach Dry Erase Clipboard ~$15
A half-court clipboard for the volunteer parent coach who draws up plays during timeouts. The dry-erase markers are included.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
$50–$100
Tips for basketball gift shopping
Work out whether they mostly watch, play or both. Fans want history, cards and team gear; players want reps and better equipment.
Be careful with current players' jerseys. Trades happen often, so a legend or throwback is the safer choice.
Match the ball to where they play. Indoor composite balls don't last on asphalt, and rubber outdoor balls feel cheap in a gym.
Check space and rules before buying a driveway hoop: slope, overhead wires, neighbors and any HOA rules.
For a fan with a few other passions too, ask our gift finder for a combined shortlist.
Basketball gift FAQs
What is a good gift for a basketball fan who doesn't play?
A basketball history book, a trading card box with a display binder, an arcade hoop game or tickets to a game. Display cases suit fans with signed memorabilia.
What size basketball should I buy?
Size 7 for men and boys from about 12, size 6 for women and girls from about 12, and size 5 for younger kids. If they play in a league, check what size the league uses.
Indoor or outdoor basketball: which should I buy?
If they play on driveways or park courts, choose an indoor/outdoor ball. A premium indoor ball is only worth it for gym players; outdoor surfaces will wear it out quickly.
What's a good basketball gift for a young kid?
A height-adjustable kids' hoop and a size 5 or smaller ball. Being able to actually score at a lower rim keeps young children interested, and the hoop can be raised as they grow.
Are basketball cards a good gift?
For fans and young collectors, yes. Opening a blaster box is fun, and a binder helps them keep the cards safe. Treat it as a hobby, not a way to make money.
One last idea that doesn't come in a box: go with them. Take the fan in your life to a college game, where tickets are often cheap and the crowds are loud, or sit through a rec-league game and cheer for the forty-year-old who still thinks he can go left. Basketball is a social game on both sides of the court, and the people who love it tend to remember who came along far longer than they remember a gift.