15 Gifts for Basketball Fans of All Ages

Whether you're a fan of Shaquille O’Neal or LeBron James, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas for fans of all ages.

Author:
Stephanie Quick
Updated:
Apr 29, 2022
Original:
Apr 29, 2022

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With the NBA playoffs in full swing, fans will be eagerly waiting for the Jun. 19 finals. You can find the latest daily schedule for teams at Sports Illustrated.

Basketball dates back to 1891, when the game was first created by Dr. James Naismith as a way to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. Then in 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed, and three seasons later in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Today, the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the world based on popularity, salaries and talent.

Maybe you have memories of your own friends and family teaching you how to play basketball, and perhaps you even have your own kids that are starting to learn the ropes. So, if you—or a loved one—are big fans of basketball’s most famous players, from Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan to LeBron James and Stephen Curry, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas for fans of all ages.

Gifts For Fans

A birthday or holiday wouldn't be complete without fan gear for your basketball-loving fanatic. From tee-shirts to mini hoops, we've sourced some of the coolest gifts for fans.

NBA Team Mini Hoops ($14.95; amazon.com)

NBA Team Mini Hoops - Miami Heat — amazon.com

From the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat to Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, you can rep your favorite teams with this NBA mini hoops basketball net and ball. It’s available in all 30 teams, and can be easily set up over the doorway. This is a great gift to decorate a man cave, give to an office mate for a birthday or Secret Santa, or a fun addition to a college dorm.

NCAA Crossover Full Size Basketball ($17.99; amazon.com)

This official NCAA-licensed full-size basketball is made of durable vulcanized rubber and 29.5 inches in diameter. It features alternating team color panels, team logo and name. Support your favorite NCAA school in style.

40 Basketball Hall-of-Fame Card Collection ($16.31, originally $17.63; amazon.com)

Calling all avid card collectors! This set of 40 assorted Hall of Famer and Superstar basketball cards can include Michal Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and more. Reviewers all agree this is a great collection of cards of famous players from the 80s, 90s and 2000s.

NBA Playoff Gear: T-Shirts, Hoodies and More (store.nba.com)

NBA Playoff Gear - Mavericks hat — store.nba.com

Whether you’re a fan of the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls or Dallas Mavericks, there’s something for men, women and teens at the NBA store. Get your gear for the 2022 playoffs now.

NBA Jersey (starting at $74.99; store.nba.com)

LeBron James LA Lakers Jersey — store.nba.com

Find all the latest jerseys, like this 2021-2022 LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers statement edition jersey ($74.99). And for longtime fans, nothing beats a classic. Check out the Hardwood Classics to find all your favorites, like Larry Bird’s Celtics jersey to Magic Johnson’s Lakers jersey.

Jersey Display Frame ($76.99; amazon.com)

Made of solid wood with a black or mahogany finish, this jersey frame is shatter proof and made with UV-protection acrylic glass. Inside is a felt lining and two anti-theft locks that can protect your cherished sports memorabilia and collectables.

Gifts for Players

While your fan gear might be great for courtside seats, if you're more of the hands-on type, check out these gifts perfect for the casual basketball player.

Wilson NCAA Outdoor Basketballs ($20.99; amazon.com)

From red to lime green, your NCAA fans will love this Killer Crossover basketball, ideal for shooting hoops outside versus an indoor court--rubber balls are best suited for the outdoors. The 27.5 inch is a youth size, so if you need a particular size for regulation purposes, note that only certain colors come in certain sizes.

Two-Piece Light Up Basketball and Hoop Lights ($51.99; amazon.com)

This fun two-piece basketball set is great for kids and adults alike. You get one lighted basketball, one set of basketball hoop lights, and a remote control to choose one of 17 different colors and seven different flashing styles. These LED basketballs are activated when they are hit and automatically turn off when not in use.

Electric Ball Pump ($32.99; amazon.com)

Ideal for football, basketball and volleyballs, this automatic electric ball pump is portable and easy to use. It has a rechargeable battery and comes with a USB cable, ball needle and waterproof bag. The intelligent pressure detection will automatically stop inflating once the present pressure is reached.

Basketball Backpack with USB Charging Port ($30.99; amazon.com)

This multifunctional bag can carry laptops, books, phones and outdoor equipment, including basketballs, soccer balls or helmets. It comes with a USB charging port and earphone port, so you can connect and charge on the go. With eight different pockets and anti-theft zippers and hooks, this is the perfect backpack for students and travelers.

Dry Erase Coaches Clipboard ($12.99, originally $14.99; amazon.com)

This double-sided dry erase clipboard makes it easy to organize and optimize your game plans. You can choose from basketball, baseball or soccer prints, and it comes with one dry erase marker and one marker clip.

Pop-A-Shot Home Dual Shot Basketball Arcade Game ($339.99; amazon.com)

Okay, we know this is a little pricey for a gift idea, but this at-home basketball arcade game has over 2,700 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. While reviewers do say you need some patience to put it together, it’s a sturdy and durable game that won’t collapse on the first throw. There are 16 different games and six audio options, a LED scoreboard, and it comes with seven balls. It’s perfect for entertaining guests, keeping rowdy teenagers occupied or simply practicing your free throw.

Gifts for Readers

Not all the work has to be done on the court. From cookbooks to coffee table photography, check out list of fan-worthy reads.

Shaq’s Family Style Cookbook (starting at $14.99; amazon.com)

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has never been one to hide that he loves food. In this cookbook, he shares 80 recipes and 100 different photos of his creations, from loaded potato waffles to spicy jambalaya. Multiple reviewers say the book recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are items easily found at the grocery store.

Sports Illustrated: Basketball’s Greatest Hardcover ($34.95; sishop.com)

Sports Illustrated has polled its basketball experts to determine the top 10 players in over 20 different categories. From the greatest center of all time to the best power forward, see if you agree with our experts alongside stunning photography and classic stories from the archives.

Barkley: A Biography (starting at $14.99; amazon.com)

Raised by his mother and grandmother in Leeds, Alabama, Charles Barkley struggled in his early years to fit in until he found a community and purpose in basketball. In the NBA he went against some of the greatest legends, including Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. With over 370 original interviews and research, Timothy Bella’s Barkley is one of the most comprehensive biographies to date.

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.