Get in the Game With These 18 Basketball Essentials

Indoor courts are a great place to practice, especially if you’re just starting out as an adult. “The hardwood floor allows for more consistency in the surface, grip, and softness in landing,” says Vivek Babaria, DO, RMSK, a board-certified spine and sports medicine physician at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Southern California, who plays basketball recreationally. “Nothing’s better than just getting out on an open gym and starting with the basics — dribbling, layups, and watching the ball get through the net.” Dr. Babaria says that the best ball for indoor play is the Wilson Evolution. The pebbled composited leather cover is soft and grippy, and the cushioned core makes it easier to control, which is a plus for learners.

If you keep tabs on everything from your sleep score to your step count with a fitness tracker, you’ll love the feedback from this smart basketball. It’s the same size and weight as a regulation ball, but it uses an accelerometer and gyroscope to analyze metrics like release angle, spin rate, and speed. “The amount of data that’s collected is truly amazing,” says writer Raki Swanson, who tested the ball and ranked it as one of the best gifts for teens. The data syncs to an app on your phone, so you can see exactly where you need to improve. The one downside is the steep annual fee for the app subscription — but a free year is typically bundled with the ball, so you can find out whether it works for you before you renew.

Basketball shorts are typically cut loosely to allow for unrestricted movement and plenty of ventilation. Many players also layer a pair of compression shorts underneath to prevent chafing. We like these women’s shorts from Nike because they serve both purposes, without you having to spring for two pairs of shorts. The soft, woven outer layer is roomy and comfortable, while the snug inner shorts underneath wick away moisture and prevent any rubbing. The liner also has side pockets, so you can safely store your phone and ID while you play.

Our pick for men is the Dri-FIT Miler 7" Brief-Lined Running Shorts. These shorts also feature a brief liner to help wick away sweat and provide support. They also have a back pocket, in addition to side pockets.

“Since basketball is a contact sport that uses almost every major muscle group, almost every muscle is fair game when it comes to using a percussive massager,” Guiteau says. This travel-size massage gun is perfect for post-game recovery — its small size makes it easy to stash in a gym bag, but it still offers powerful percussion of up to 2,400 ppm. Writer Olivia Campbell tested the Theragun Mini for our roundup of the best electric massagers and found that it helped to improve mobility, reduce muscle tension, and relieved her arch pain and hip soreness.

If you’re playing a long or intense game, it’s important to not only stay hydrated but also replenish electrolytes. “As a general rule of thumb, water is likely all you need if you’re playing for less than an hour at low to moderate intensity,” Guiteau says. “Any activity longer or more intense than that, and you should consider adding electrolytes.” Tailwind was one of our picks for the best electrolyte powders of 2026 — we ranked it as the best option for endurance athletes, because it replenishes sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium after a long and intense workout. It’s sweetened with real sugar for a quick energy boost, and each serving contains 35 milligrams of caffeine to enhance focus and fight fatigue.