I’m (30f) a single mom and my son (8m) is starting basketball this week. I’m trying to find shoes and clothes for him to wear that will help him, but also keep him from getting bullied.

I’ve done some research and know he needs shoes with good traction and ankle support, and moisture wicking clothes, but I’m worried I’ll get him something that other kids will bully/tease him about. I’m assuming wearing actual NBA team jerseys is corny, but like, are pattered basketball shorts lame? Are Jordan’s lame? Muscle tanks or regular tees? Baggy or not baggy?

Honestly any advice helps. Thanks

But the results was different from what you expected. Instead of the nba player dominating he was just like ok, where he didn’t dominate the game has anyone seen something like that before. Essentially the opposite of what you always hear where nba players just destroy the normal gym guy

I know NBA players are definitely not slow but when I see someone like SGA or Curry handle the ball they look like they're barely even trying. Its just so smooth, controlled, and effortless. They never try to do too much.

I know basketball is a physical game but when I see some pickup games its like everything is about aggression. Sometimes I think its just compensating for a lack of skill. It seems like it might work for a short period but I know if you try too hard you'll burn out fast or make mistakes.

Doesn’t have to be from your team or country. Can be retired.

As a professional athlete he has access to the help and coaching. Is it a pride thing

title

Of course talent matters but I think height might be the big thing that really seperates you from the pack and puts you at a higher level. There's plenty of regular sized people that can play and are talented but they don't have D1 or NBA size.

Like if you're over 6'5" I bet you'll get looks or people forcing you to play basketball based on height alone. I do know talent does matter because I knew a guy who was 6"11" but he couldn't play to save his life. I felt bad for him because everyone gave him shit and was told he was a waste of height and if they were him they would've taken advantage of it.

Those who play co-ed softball would know what I'm talking about. If not, the way it works is that there's an ethics rule about letting girls make their own plays in co-ed.

For example, a male SS and a female 2B are going for a pop-fly. The ball is significantly closer to 2B side than SS side. Yet despite this, the male SS runs all the way over and makes a nice catch. Instead of your team celebrating, they scream "LET THE GIRLS PLAY!". This is likely caused because the male SS had no faith in the female 2B. In other words, if a ball is closer to a girl, you're expected to let her attempt to make the play.

Does co-ed basketball have a similar problem where men won't let the women play? Such as never passing the ball to women or always taking their rebounds?

Idk any good examples it's why I'm asking you guys!

In rec softball, a lot of players want to or are only capable of playing on the infield. On one hand, you have the wannabe-MLB players or young studs that think they're an elite SS/3B. Then you have the slower footed players on 2B/1B or on co-ed teams these spots are filled by women. And the pitcher is usually the least athletic but wants to provide value besides catching. So this effectively leaves room for 4 outfield positions that need to be filled. Which is hard to find because catching a deep fly ball is a skill that is taught less often than a ground ball. Although to be fair, the skill requirement for being decent at the outfield is a lot lower than on the infield. Not to mention athleticism and stamina is needed to stay consistent or else risk injuring. And yet despite all this, a competent outfield could be the difference between a few runs per game, which is like a win vs a loss.

What is the rec basketball equivalent of this? What's a position or role that nobody wants to play? Yet if they're at least competent at this, they can elevate teams over the top.

Whether it's pick-up or a league where there's no jersey requirement. How come it's acceptable for some players to play shirtless?

Yet with softball, if you did that, it's a near-automatic ejection from the umpire. Even in pickup games, if you're shirtless, they'd ask you to wear a shirt or you're not welcome.

Because he's so generally hated and memed about I think James Harden is a decent shout, I also think John Stockton gets disrespected when I see YouTube vids on the goat point guards but idk I'm a casual lol

Hey all, I’ve seen the movie GOAT and heard the term “breaking ankles” from it, I was wondering if you could tell me some other examples of basketball slang?

Hey coaches,

Looking to get some perspective from those of you who have handled elite physical prospects at a young age.

My 14-year-old (just turned 14) is officially measured at 6'8" (2.03m) barefoot. We just got his knee/wrist X-rays back, and his bone age matches his real age perfectly—growth plates are completely wide open, meaning he has a long way to go (doctors projecting well over 7'0"). He’s coming off a high-level European invitational camp experience where he held his own, but we are entering a crucial development window.

My biggest fear right now is the traditional trap: local coaches wanting to lock him under the rim as a permanent 5-man just to win youth games today, sacrificing his long-term modern game.

Currently, he has solid perimeter instincts, decent handle for his size, and good shooting mechanics.

If you had a 6'8" 14-year-old in your program with this physical profile:

1. Skill Balance: What percentage of his workout load would you dedicate to perimeter/guard skills vs. interior footwork at this exact age?
2. Physical Load Management: With wide-open growth plates and constant height adjustment, how do you handle his lateral mobility, deceleration, and knee care without overtaxing him?
3. Game Reps: How do you convince team coaches to let a 6'8" kid make mistakes handling/initiating on the perimeter during actual competition?

Would love to hear how you guys approach long-term prospect development over short-term wins.

UPDATE

Quick update on this. A high-level coach actually evaluated George in person through a camp he just attended, and his feedback lined up with the smartest advice on this thread.
He told us to keep him strictly on the wing as a 6'8 point-forward rather than burying him under the rim just because he is currently the tallest kid on the floor. He emphasized letting him initiate offense and make decision-making mistakes on the perimeter now so he actually learns how to process the game.
He also gave a strong warning about protecting his joints while his growth plates are open, saying heavy lifting or burning out on huge game mileage right now is a massive mistake. He really liked our European setup where we do 4 to 5 skill and mobility practice days a week with just 1 game on the weekend, compared to playing 4 games a day in AAU.
Finally, he noted that combining a perimeter skill set at his height with his 3.8 GPA keeps every door open for a free top-tier college degree, which is our primary goal anyway. Really encouraging to have a top coach evaluate him at camp and confirm that long-term movement, IQ, and joint health beat short-term post points every single time.

**EDIT**

I have made this https://prospect-passport.vercel.app/ (password SCOUT2030)
Would you think that this would be a good tool for the future for finding the right spot for him?

Do you count this as a hobby? No known drills, you just prefer to shoot around by yourself once a week.

Obviously D1 is in it's own league. I live in the Bay Area and there's Cal State East Bay which is D2 I believe and then there's a community college down the road called Chabot. I've been to both men's basketball and they seem pretty similar as far as talent, size, and athleticism. If they played each other it feels like it would be an even matchup. I know it's not a whole lot to go off of but I'm curious if there's much of a gap between these lesser known schools.

On 48 hour notice. Turned 56 on Monday and haven’t so much as played a pick up game in some 15 years. And no, I don’t work at an all girls middle school. I work at a community college in LA. My wife asked me to make sure she is the beneficiary on all my stuff.

Game is today. How do I keep from dying?

EDIT: Just want to jump back in to say thanks for the comments; both the serious and humorous ones. It is now a little after 8am and the game is at noon. I will definitely post afterward. But in all serious, the "game" will be such a mismatch that I don't think anyone, even 19-20 yo's at the peak of their powers, will take it seriously. I used to be a legit knock down shooter and if they leave me open, it's going up. But I have no idea if any will go in.

EDIT: thank you for everyone that was praying for me. I did not die. But, one of the big boys hit me square in be back, so I’m sure I’ll feel it tonight.

Box score: 1-1, 2 points, 1 rebound, I’d call that a huge victory.

EDIT: it’s rhe the morning after, I just woke up. OH MY GAWD I’m sore.

Those who watch baseball, you see what are called Switch Hitters. Players that can bat left and right handed. Heck, we even have a player that can throw both left and right handed.

What about for basketball? How common are switch shooters? Players that can make a jump shot left handed and right handed effectively? Imagine Steph Curry can shoot left handed too.

Why did basketball become much more popular worldwide, specifically in Europe, than American Football and baseball? I'm not especially talking about the nba but rather the sport itself, it's been played at the olympics since 1936, (baseball made an appearance in 1900 but then until 1992 it was only an exhibition sport at select few). It's also a very common sport to play and know the rules of even without following the NBA or any other basketball league.

Unlike American Football which is quite inaccessible due to the large field and pads and everything baseball is not that difficult nor expensive to play and I know baseball is popular in Japan and some carribean and south American countries (where there was a lot of American influence and culture spreading around), so I guess it has the potential to become popular worldwide.

One interesting thing I heard is that it's due to it being so different than other sports, American Football being somewhat similar to Rugby and baseball somewhat similar to cricket, so people didn't have motivation to try the American "version" but cricket and rugby is mainly popular in the UK and their ex-colonies, so a similar case as to Baseball in Japan and the Carribean.

So why and when did basketball become a global sport?

Anyone here played or know someone who played d1 basketball. What did you/they do after they finished college ball

Explain to me in football (soccer) terms. I know nothing about basketball, i've seen some random games but not enough to understand or appreciate stats and performances.

The other day i saw a clip of an interview where an ex player told an anecdote about MJ. The quote is quite famous because of how cold it is: when MJ saw who was supposed to guard him after finding out the player who was supposed to do so (the one telling the anecdote) was injured, he just laughed and said “50”.
He's saying before the game confidently he’s going to easily score 50pts.

Now that level of confidence and coldness can be appreciated by anyone, but to someone who haven’t seen a lot of games im struggling to understand to what extent he was that confident of himself and truly the difference between him and other players

I’m admittedly not a basketball guy. I get why we hype up the dunker, but why are we doggin on and taunting the person getting dunked ON? Bro’s just standing there usually minding his own business maybe trying to catch a charge or somethin. They even use the phrase “getting dunked on” outside of basketball to mean being humiliated. Someone jumping up high in your vicinity doesn’t really seem overly humiliating to me.