11 Awesome Benefits of Playing Basketball

Whether you were a student-athlete or not, it’s never too late to pick up the sport of basketball. This exciting, fast-paced game gives you a whole-body workout, improves coordination, offers excellent teambuilding opportunities, and much more. 

Have you been considering lacing up your Air Jordans and giving it your best shot? Today, we’re sharing 11 incredible benefits of playing basketball to encourage you to get out there on the court!

1. Great Cardiovascular Exercise

Think about the way your body moves when you’re dribbling, dodging, and shooting hoops. You’re running, moving, and jumping a ton!

That’s an excellent cardiovascular workout that you can feel great about. Short, quick bursts of movement are great for getting your heart rate up, which helps improve your health from the inside out. With regular play, you can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular concerns. 

2. Stronger Bones

Any time you put repetitive weight on your bones, you help them form new, healthy tissue. For this reason, weight-bearing exercises like basketball are great when you want to increase your bone strength. 

It doesn’t take long to realize that after a few seconds of running back and forth, your muscles are being tugged in new directions. As they push against your bones, they strengthen them. Over time, this can help you prevent conditions such as osteoporosis so you can stay active for as long as possible!

3. Calorie Burner

Why run on the treadmill when you can run on the basketball court? This game offers an incredible aerobic workout that burns just as many calories but offers a ton more fun. 

In one hour of basketball, the average person burns between 325 and 450 calories. Quick, intermittent basketball drills and practices burn the most calories (around 660 per hour) but even casually shooting hoops burns around 320!

The takeaway? If you’re looking for a great way to stay in shape and shed a few pounds, then basketball can help you get there. 

4. Stress Reduction

Feeling a little anxious lately? If meditation isn’t your thing, why not pick up a basketball instead? This game requires just as much mental strength as physical strength and can be a great way to clear your head.

As you focus on your next move, you can help calm your nerves and redirect your energy. Plus, exercising releases those feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins that can help lift you out of even the funkiest mood. 

5. Immune System Boost

Another benefit of lowering your stress levels by leaving your frustrations on the court? Doing so reduces the amount of stress hormone, called cortisol, in your system. When cortisol is allowed to build up, it can increase the amount of inflammation in your body, which causes your immune system to work overtime. 

A stronger immune system helps you ward off diseases like the common cold, so consider this a green light to lace up and shoot some hoops!

6. Improved Critical Thinking Skills

If you’ve ever had to make a split-second decision before the buzzer chimes, then you know that basketball is a mind game. As you interact with your teammates and run plays, you’ll naturally improve your decision-making and critical thinking skills. 

The longer you play, the sharper your focus will become. Before long, you’ll be able to predict how your teammates or opponents will react on the court, and you can react and plan your own moves accordingly. 

7. Better Full-Body Coordination

Quick! Can you pat your head and rub your belly? For some reason, that’s the classic test of hand-eye coordination, though it doesn’t tell the full picture. 

Full-body coordination kicks in when you’re able to react quickly and physically to an unexpected stimulus. For instance, think about how you’d respond if a shot hit the rim and flew back into the court. Would you be able to grab it and instantly rebound it to score?

If the prospect sounds daunting, just give it time. Start by sharpening your hand-eye coordination through dribbling and work your way up from there!

8. Bolstered Self-Esteem

As humans, we’re pre-wired to crave rewards. When we get one, it activates special pathways in our brains and makes us want even more. 

While it might not sound like much, the “swoosh” of the basketball net is an incredible reward to our brains. It signals that we’ve done a good job and performed well. This simple act alone can bolster our self-esteem and encourage us to stick with the sport.

Are you still tossing air balls? Practice makes better, so find someone who can show you the ropes and help you learn the right technique!

9. Better Stamina and Endurance

You might be winded after only one 30-minute game of basketball but that won’t last for long. As you play the game more, you’ll soon build stamina, agility, and endurance. 

This is due to the fact that basketball centers on high-intensity, short-circuit movements. You might not hold one position for very long, but you’re constantly applying force for an extended period of time. This builds your muscular strength and helps you power through on the next go-round.

10. Sense of Teamwork

Above all else, basketball is a team sport. If you play alone, then you’re just shooting hoops. A real game requires coordination, comunication, and discipline. As you work with your teammates, you’ll create a sense of community and build team spirit.

Plus, you may have the opportunity to interact with people from backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities that are different from yours. This can help widen your world view and broaden your perspective. 

11. Stronger Balance

Playing basketball requires you to pivot, change direction, and move quickly back and forth. All of these motions improve your balance! This skill helps your body control itself when its faced with any type of challenging task. 

This means greater agility, quicker response times, and improved overall performance. 

Reap These Benefits of Playing Basketball

Are you considering taking up a new sport? If so, it’s time to give basketball a try. If you’ve been playing for years, there’s always room for improvement as you learn new techniques and sharpen your skills.

The benefits of playing basketball are impossible to ignore. This is one sport that can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health and keep you feeling great for years. As you become the athlete you want to be, it’s critical to have the right shoes.

We can help you find a great pair of basketball shoes so you look as great as you feel. From Nike and Adidas to other leading brands, we’ve got you covered. Feel free to shop our full online collection today and reach out to us with any questions!