So you’re looking for the perfect basketball present for the child in your life for a birthday, Christmas, or holiday? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Today we’ve pulled together a helpful gift guide packed full of basketball gifts for kids that are sure to use every day and love for a lifetime. From fun Croc charms to a custom water bottle, and even an awesome smart mini hoop, find something every child will love.
These recommendations come from first-hand experience: including basketball players with 25 years of hooping experience, 10 years of coaching experience, kids on elementary school and AAU teams, parents of high school hoopers, and just a pure love for the game.
Of course, we have to tell you about our one-of-a-kind basketball shorts featuring both NBA and WNBA players.
Also if you’re looking for a fast unique gift, check out our fun printable basketball IQ card game (here for beginners and here for advanced), created in partnership with a Nike basketball trainer! And our printable basketball journal to encourage your basketball player to be reflective about their games and practices, create great goals, and improve.
Besides that, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite gifts for children that love basketball to save you some time.
We’ve included items our team has tried and enjoyed, as well as items with strong reviews from customers. We’ve also been sure to include gifts you won’t find on other lists, so your gift feels like one-of-a-kind to its special recipient.
Just to kick it off with another idea, you could even get your child a custom video from an NBA player or WNBA player using Cameo.
OK, while clothes may not seem like a riveting gift, they’re a basketball player essential. Many young athletes workout frequently, sometimes multiple times a day, and that means many outfit changes. We’d recommend scooping up some tees and shirts from Overtime because they come in a ton of fun colors and the quality holds up pretty well. If you haven’t heard of Overtime, it’s a newer basketball media company that puts out a ton of popular content on social media, and even has an academy (OTE) for hoopers to attend to get ready to enter the NBA draft. Price: $45+
VKTRY Insoles are the perfect gift for hoopers this Christmas, as they are the only insoles proven to boost performance. Featuring a unique carbon fiber plate, the insoles flex and return energy every time you run or jump. Studies show an improvement to a player’s vertical leap by an average of 1.6 inches! Not only are there athletic benefits to VKTRY Insoles, but they are great for protecting against injuries to your feet and knees. If you suffer shin splints, or foot pain due to your playing schedule, they are a great option to keep you healthy through the season. VKTRY Insoles are on offer throughout November, so be sure to check them out at vktry.com.
Make playing hoops even more fun! Get a cool glow in the dark hoop they can hang in their room or the basement. The backboard, rope and basketball all glow in the dark. It’s durable, has padding on the back to protect doors, and it’s easy to setup. Price: $25.48
Alternative: OK if you’re really looking to go BIG this birthday, Huupe just released a new smart mini-hoop. With this one, your kid can play against hoopers from all around the world anytime – making the game way more fun.
If your hooper plays basketball year round, they need a backpack that is durable enough to keep up with them, but spacious enough to carry all their gear. This bag is the perfect solution and even has pockets for their shoes. Choose from a variety of colors and NBA teams. Plus, you can personalize it with their name and number. Price: $79
Most basketball players go through a ball a year, so this will be a handy and cool gift. Customize a Wilson Evolution – one of the best balls on the market and the best-selling game ball in the country – with your kid’s jersey number, favorite team logo, AAU team logo, or anything you can dream up! Your logo will be roughly 2” in size, direct printed in full color above the Wilson wordmark. The Evolutions signature feel can’t be beat. The secret is in the cushion core carcass that provides the softer feel that gives hands more control. It’s designed for indoor use, but can be used outdoor as well – it will just wear a bit more quickly. The nice thing about a custom ball is that it’s less likely someone else leaves the gym with their ball. Price: $94.95
Every hooper needs tons of socks, and these come in all sorts of awesome designs. These feature a breathable construction, and have soft padding and nice fit, so your hooper will be comfortable throughout every game and practice. Choose from NBA socks and WNBA socks to find your child’s favorite team. Price: $15+
The perfect gift for any basketball fan or player to take their outfit to the next level. These super cute, tiny basketball earrings are fade and water resistant, and titanium posts make them comfortable enough for all day wear. And they’re hypoallergenic for sensitive ears. Price: $12
For young fans of the WNBA, we recommend checking out Playa Society tees. Former WNBA player, Esther Wallace started Playa Society back in 2018, and the shop features cool tees with icons such as Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird, and more. Price: $45+
A few other basketball clothing companies worth checking out include:
Keep their hair out of their face and help them show off their team spirit with these cute hair ties! Each card comes with three elastic hair ties: one basketball hair tie, one solid color hair tie of your choice, and a second basketball hair tie or a second solid color hair tie of your choice. For hoopers with tighter cuts, cap off their head with a great cap instead. Choose from all sorts of NBA designs on Fanatics or WNBA designs. Price: $4+
This one is for your youngest budding hoopers! Designed by STEM toy company KiwiCo, kids can aim, shoot, and score with this physics-friendly crate! With this kit they’ll be able to engineer an adjustable catapult and play a spirited game of basketball. Along the way they’ll learn about the science of sports, and experiment with different angles and arcs until they’re a hoop superstar. It has a lot of small parts so be sure to supervise their play time. Price: $24.95
Add a little flair to every hoop session with these colorful bright lights! This basketball hoop light is equipped with upgraded LED bulbs and a new version 32-key remote control, to light up the rim of a basketball hoop. It’s compatible with a standard basketball hoop size, and comes with instructions and two size zip ties, for easy installation. And don’t worry, it’s waterproof! Price: $23.99
Improve their game by helping them work on their ball control, dribbling, and strength with a weighted basketball from reputable brand, SKLZ. This ball is great for hoopers of all ages and can be used indoors or out. Your child will find when they switch back to a regular ball it feels a heck of a lot easier! Price: $44.99
Other popular gifts for helping serious basketball kids train and work out include a rung ladder, a weighted jump rope, hurdles for doing plyometrics and a reaction catch trainer.
Take your hooper’s basketball knowledge to the next level! This set features 64 waterproof cards full of guided drills and workouts for at home, practice, and the gym. Includes 5 categories with illustrations and step-by-step instructions. It’s even fun for beginners! Price: $11.99
Looking for something a little cheaper, maybe to round out a gift? One thing about hooper kids: they love looking fitted. So help your hooper deck out their Crocs and shoes, and pull up to the game in style. Get 50 shoe charms including basketballs, hoops, a trophy, and more. Price: $5.99
If you have a reader on your hands or want to encourage reading, this is a great gift. Plus it’s extra cool because they’ll get a new magazine every month for 6 months – so it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Reading SLAM magazine is a must because it features the biggest names in basketball and their stories. It’s a great way to help your hooper learn all about basketball history and culture. They’ll be able to read all about high school, college, and professional basketball. Get your guy a 1-year subscription to the print magazine (6 issues) and a year of their digital archive. Price: $29.94
Get your favorite gifts fast! Some items are sure to sell out. Still looking for more inspiration? Explore more of the best basketball gifts here – for “kids” of all ages, or check out basketball gift ideas for boys and basketball gift ideas for girls.
