Looking for breakthrough basketball accessories that can help you level up your game? We’ve got you covered. Today we’ll reveal some basketball basics to enhance your practice setup, some extras that can help aid your performance, and a few style picks to enhance every outfit.
Stop wasting time chasing the ball! Check out basketball accessories that’ll save you time, help you work on your jump height, give you more traction during games, help you work on your mental game, and more.
First things first – hoopers gotta have great kicks. But we’re sure you’re already on top of that. So we’re going to reveal a few other basic accessories for a great practice setup.
OK pretty much what every hooper dreams of – after their own beautiful indoor court of course – is a way to get all those rebounds back to them without having to chase the ball. This handy return is simple assemble and snap onto your basket. It does a great job of returning balls through the hoop, and keeps them in the general area you need. Of course, you can easily move it to point any direction you want. That’s actually the one drawback of this attachment, which is that sometimes it’ll change the direction on its own. You can use zipties and/or tape to keep it in place though.
It truly feels like everywhere we go people are always asking, “Do you have a pump?” A basketball pump is so key. And you want one that’s easy to transport and one where the needle isn’t going to snap off. So this small lightweight pump will do just the trick! We’ve had it for years and it’s still working great. It’s super easy to use, doesn’t get stuck in items and is super strong. Plus the price can’t be beat.
The best sound in the world is that swish as you make a shot. But it doesn’t happen without a net! So restock on crisp nets that bring the sweet sound of success to your ears. This net is our favorite, especially for the price. It’s strong and durable because it’s a little bit thicker than others, and it will keep you happy hooping for a long time even through snow and rain. It fits a standard basketball hoop no problem, making setup a breeze.
This is another true hooper’s delight – especially if you’ve got a hill or cars you need to protect on a side of your driveway. This handy net is thick enough to be sturdy, pretty simple to install on the hoop (can be done by one person – a little easier with two), and even can be folded up. It lasts quite a few seasons, no problem. Some hoopers also mentioned they were even able to get it to fit OK on a 3.5″ round pole, despite its design for a square pole.
Hoopers are always on the go – to the gym, the court, the store – so a basketball book bag or even gym duffle bag is key. This is our go-to basketball bag – and it’s lasted us for more than three years of daily use. It’s big enough to hold everything we need for hooping in separate pockets – including a basketball; it has really convenient external side pockets for a water bottle and slides; and it has enough compartments to keep everything separate with easy access. We recommend getting it in a darker color to not show dirt as much: the black with gold metallic version can also help your bag stand out a bit from other bags, so no one else accidentally walks off with it.
Well, if Zion Williamson uses it, maybe you will too? Say goodbye to spills and leaks! This is our go-to waterbottle because it’s so dependable and lightweight. Staying hydrated is key for strong performance on the court.
Spacing cones out can help you work on dribbling, and you can also use them as an accountability tool to get low enough on your drives, by making yourself pick them up. This 10-pack is durable and easy to see at all times of the day.
If you’re already equipped to the max with your setup, here are some other accessory ideas to help you practice, have fun, and get better
If you’ve got more of a beginner hooper or a kid, these are an awesome gift! These 64 cards are full of great drills passing, shooting, defense, ball handling, and rebounding skill development, games, and explanations. They’ll give you some ideas of things to try – you can use them as say a 10 minute warm up to your usual workout, or make them the entire workout – and keep you motivated to learn more. You might also like our printable Basketball IQ card game which is a fun way to improve your mental game off the court – there’s an Advanced pack too.
This stuff works. If you’ve ever played on a community gym or like a middle school gym, you know the feeling of sliding all over the court. This stuff is a game changer even on dusty and dirty courts. Just spray your sneaker soles and kick the floor a few times to instantly improve sneaker grip. It won’t damage or eat away at your shoe soles, and a single bottle will last a full season for most basketball players.
Granted this isn’t the sexiest accessory but it’s so beneficial. Jumping rope is an excellent way to warm up before practice or games. It can also be a wonderful way to build your cardio and leg muscles. Here are a couple of ways to use a jump rope to get better at basketball.
Basketball journaling can really help drive to a hooper’s progress. Learn about how to use a journal and get some interesting prompts with our article on basketball journaling – it also includes a few journals to pick from. Our most recommended journal is this generic one created by the author of Atomic Habits, James Clear. It is a combination dot grid notebook, daily journal, and habit tracker – and it can be life changing, on and off the court. We also have a printable basketball journal you might enjoy, that you can start using right away.
This is another training aid to improve your handles and strength. This Spalding ball is solid, 3 lbs, and holds the air. It’s one of the cheapest, ye still quality options from a reputable brand. When you do dribbling drills with it you’ll be able to improve your arm, wrist and finger strength. NBA trainer Chris Brickley has a video of some dribbling drills you can do with a weighted ball or you could also just pick one of the dribbling challenges from the free Homecourt Basketball app to follow.
For hoopers stuck inside during the winter ‘silent’ basketballs are all the rage. Though to be honest, they sort of get boring to use pretty quickly and they’re fairly expensive for what they are. But if you live in an apartment and are going a bit stir-crazy they might be able to help pass the time a little. There’s also the SKLZ Mini Hoop for just fun games. Or the DribbleUp’s smart ball which at least has challenges you can interact with – though your ball will be kind of heavy and loud.
Earbuds are crucial for that pre-game routine, where you listen to your favorite music. Or during workouts to keep you going. The Bose Quiet Comfort IIs are the best for the price – they’re super comfortable with an easy fit, and the sound quality is on point.
Some of our hooper friends swear by this thing. Whoop is lightweight and comfortable, and gives you a lot of information about your body in a clear and easy to find way. For example you’ll get specific insight into your sleep, strain, and overall recovery. If you’re doing two a days plus weight lifting or plyometrics regularly, this can really help you monitor your body to get ideal results. However to enjoy all the benefits you have to purchase a subscription, which is not ideal.
Sometimes you just need an accessory that slaps! So we had to include a few basketball accessories for style points.
One thing about hoopers, if they’re not in their kicks, they’re in their Crocs. Crocs are super cushiony – this version even has a nice lining – and they really hold up well. They’re easy to slip on after a game which is perhaps why they’re hooper preferred.
Speaking of Crocs, get some complementary shoe charms to personalize them. These clasp on easily to Crocs and feature some famous NBA hoopers including Steph Curry and LeBron James.
Socks are an every day thing – duh! So basketball players need tons of these. Somehow the dryer always eats just one sock, too. This is a fun two-pack of socks that comes in any NBA team’s logo and colorway. Better yet, the two pairs of socks come in contrasting colors to give you some variety. They’re super breathable, soft, and last a long time.
Even if you don’t have the old Justin Bieber cut, you might still need to keep your eyes clear. And headbands are just the solution! There are tons of options but here are two of our favorites: Nike Headbands or Jordan Jumpman Headbands.
These won’t be useful on the court, but off it, they’re sure to score points. Available in any NBA team’s theme, this three-pack of bracelets are colorful, well made, and fit great.
Step onto the court fully equipped and ready to conquer! You might also like exploring the top women’s basketball brands to see what they have to offer.
