philadelphia pickup basketball

Basketball is the second most popular sport in the U.S., second only to football. It’s considered one of the great American pastimes, and it has the ability to unite players, communities and cities together in pursuit of a championship. For Philadelphians, basketball is a way of life; it’s no wonder that Philly is ranked as one of the best cities for basketball fans in the country. 

If you’d rather be in the paint than in the bleachers, you may be wondering: is Philadelphia also a great city for pickup players? Luckily, the answer is yes. In fact, Philadelphia pickup basketball is an essential aspect of the city’s iconic sports culture. Keep reading to learn where casual hoops players can play pickup games in their Philadelphia neighborhoods.

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Looking for pick-up partners or access to upcoming events? Find your basketball community in Philadelphia!

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Philadelphia Basketball Courts

When you want to brush up on your shot or to play a pickup game with friends, the first step is to find a basketball court near you. Luckily, Philadelphia’s many parks and recreation centers offer well-maintained basketball courts throughout the city.

Palumbo Recreation Center — a public sports park located just south of Washington Square West with two basketball courts and youth basketball programming. 

Shepard Recreation Center — a park and rec center in the Haddington neighborhood of West Philadelphia with multiple outdoor courts. 

Athletic Recreation Center — a recreation facility in Philadelphia’s Sharswood neighborhood with multiple outdoor basketball courts and a basketball gymnasium. 

Capitolo Playground — a functional urban sports center that provides sports fields and basketball courts in the Passyunk Square neighborhood. 

Fairmount Park Basketball Courts — multiple well-maintained basketball courts located in beautiful Fairmount Park. 

Schuylkill River Park — a popular city park located in Fitler Square with clean outdoor basketball courts, perfect for pickup games. 

Gyms With Basketball Courts in Philadelphia

With so many outdoor courts to choose from, Philadelphia pickup basketball players have plenty of venue options during the warmer months. However, harsh Philadelphia winters force pickup players to find gyms with indoor courts. Fortunately, Philly has no shortage of accessible gyms. 

Marian Anderson Recreation Center — a community recreation center with a gymnasium and multiple courts, located Southwest Center City. 

Northern Liberties Recreation Center — a recreation center located between the Callowhill and Fishtown neighborhoods that has a basketball gymnasium and youth basketball programs. 

KleinLife — a community center inspired by Jewish values that serves local communities in four different Philadelphia neighborhoods. Fitness centers include basketball gymnasiums. 

Rivera Recreation Center — a recreation center with an indoor basketball gymnasium located in North Philadelphia. 

Cobbs Creek Recreation Center — a West Philadelphia park and recreation center with indoor basketball courts. 

Guerin Recreation Center — a park and rec center with an indoor gymnasium serving the South Philadelphia community. 

Philly Youth Basketball

Interested in Philly youth basketball resources for your child? Don’t fret — Philadelphia has several affordable, high-quality organizations that provide training, competition and personal development for Philadelphia’s youth. 

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Philadelphia Youth Basketball 

Philadelphia Youth Basketball is a community-run youth empowerment organization that operates at three locations. It provides basketball programming, positive mentorship, academic enrichment, health and leadership development opportunities in an effort to help underprivileged youth find their voices. 

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Philadelphia Basketball Project

The Philadelphia Basketball Project is a nonprofit organization that provides youth players with essential basketball resources. Organizers source gear, equipment and playing opportunities to provide to youth in underserved communities. 

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Philly Basketball Fans

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a player and a fan or strictly an admirer of the game — you want to know the latest in Philadelphia basketball news. A few essential online publications can help you stay current on the 76ers, Philadelphia Big 5, smaller college and high school teams. 

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Liberty Ballers

If you’re a die-hard 76ers fan, you probably already know about the Liberty Ballers. For those unfamiliar, the Liberty Ballers is a Philadelphia 76ers community that provides the latest stories, stats, hear-say and opinions on all things 76ers. Articles include a mixture of staff-written posts and fan posts. 

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City of Basketball Love

City of Basketball Love (CoBL) is a nonprofit organization that covers high school and college basketball news in the Greater Philadelphia area. CoBL’s writing staff has historically consisted of high school and college journalists. In recent years, CoBL has become a highly-regarded training ground for the next generation of professional sports journalists. 

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Philly College Sports

If you like to read news about a variety of college sports, Philly College Sports is the publication for you. Visit Philly College Sports online and search by school or sport to find the latest results, stats, features, discussion and analysis. 

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Philadelphia Big 5

No matter which Division I school you support, the Philadelphia Big 5 has you covered. This site has you covered with the Philadelphia collegiate basketball group's history. 

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Pickup Basketball in Philly

Basketball brings diverse communities together, especially in Philadelphia. Whether you want to play Philadelphia pickup basketball, need a Philly youth basketball organization for your child or just want to connect with other Philly basketball fans — eseo’s got you covered. Find your basketball community in Philadelphia so you can keep doing what you love.