Basketball
These streetball courts will inspire you to up your basketball game
As Red Bull Half Court 2023 plays out worldwide, renovated courts are part of the scene, reflecting the local streetball culture. Here are some where you can hone your skills.
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The fastest version of 3x3 basketball, Red Bull Half Court is a global tournament that’s all about streetball culture, from the gameplay to the fashion, art and music of the scene. Qualifiers for 2023 are currently underway across the world. During the 2022 edition, games were played on numerous courts that had been revitalised – not only with the latest surfaces and equipment but also with original artwork from local talents – creating inviting playgrounds to be enjoyed for years to come.
Have a look and add these to your hooping wishlist.
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01
Melbourne, Australia
This prime spot in Prahran Park was voted the number one outdoor basketball court in Australia, and now that the refresh has erased 15 years of wear and tear, it’s better than ever. Just off Melbourne’s shopping and entertainment district, don’t be surprised if you encounter international visitors as well as ballers from across the city.
Red Bull Half Court action on the renovated court in Melbourne, Australia
© Samuel Costin/Red Bull Content Pool
02
Mannheim, Germany
To renovate a court flooded by the Neckar River, artist Florian Budke created a design spanning more than 1,000-square metres. Since the tournament, it’s become a popular playground once more. The artist was quoted as saying, “The court has again become a place that invites people to meet, linger and ultimately play basketball together.”
Overhead view of the striking court in Mannheim, Germany
© Daniel Schulz/Red Bull Content Pool
03
Lagos, Nigeria
In Nigeria, Osa 'Seven' Okunpolor, one of Africa's most talented and sought-after graffiti artists helped to renovate Ndubisi Kanu Park Court in Ikeja, Lagos State. He believes basketball is art, the art of bouncing, shooting, dribbling and the courts should reflect that.
From an aerial view, you can make out the image of an active basketballer on the floor – ball in one hand, the other hand outstretched defensively; and wings on the walls. Before the upgrade, this basketball court was a relic of its early days – the rims were without nets, the outlines faded and there was virtually no motivation to play on the restrictive surface, but all that's now history.
3 min
Own Your Court
Join local artist, Osa Seven, as he showcases the intricate graffiti he added to the newly renovated basketball court in Ikeja, Nigeria.
04
Rome, Italy
Italian artist PISKV [real name Francesco Persichella] was instrumental in giving new life to a court in Rome's Scalo San Lorenzo neighbourhood. PISKV worked with volunteers from the local community to design new artwork. It features a player dunking a basket within the grounds of Rome's famous Colosseum. The finished painted court is one of the largest in Europe at around 800-square metres. The court was used for the 2021 world finals of Red Bull Half Court that took place in Italy's capital city.
Italian artist PISKV gave new life to Rome's Scalo San Lorenzo court
© Gabriele Seghizzi/Red Bull Content Pool
05
Ancona and Rimini, Italy
You can hoop on Italy’s beautiful Adriatic coast at two sites where Red Bull Half Court qualifiers were held in 2022. At the historic port of Ancona, a court painted with a stunning image of a gorilla – designed by Gianmarco ‘2emme’ Olivieri and realised by Federico Zenobi and Nicola Canarecci – is located at the training ground of the Silverback team that won Red Bull Half Court Italy in 2021.
And there’s a seaside vibe at Rimini’s beach court, which features artwork by Emanuele ‘Rems182’ Ronco and Mauro ‘Mauro149’ Italiano with their Truly Design crew and is located at the city’s Piazzale Kennedy, a famous waterfront promenade. Like many of the renovated playgrounds globally, these Italian courts were upgraded for high performance with products from Mapei, the Official Supplier of the Red Bull Half Court World Final 2022.
The seaside court at Rimini, Italy
© Red Bull Content Pool
06
Prague, Czech Republic
This before-and-after (“pred” and “po”) post of the court that hosted the Czech national finals in Prague shows just what a difference a renovation can make. Head to this playground at the Pražačka recreation area and see if you can spot the next Tomáš Satoransky – as a child, the professional point guard played streetball not too far away and the court here honours him.
The finished look at Pražačka
© Lukáš Wagneter/Red Bull Content Pool
07
Bologna, Italy
Yet another Italian court renovation but this time in Bologna. Located in the Garden Graziella Fava, the rejuvenated court features a massive mural of the sea god Neptune. Award-winning artists Truly Design Crew created the work in collaboration with Regaz dei Fava, a community of about 80 young people of different origins and neighbourhoods, who came together to make the gardens a meeting place, with the playground as its beating heart.
Neptune making an appearance in Bologna
© Nicola Venturi
08
Lausanne, Switzerland
As a homage to Lausanne, mural artist Serge Lowrider brought a unique style to his court design at the Bowl de Vidy. Pack your skateboard as well as your basketball: this court is part of the largest skatepark of its kind in all of Switzerland.
The Swiss court at Lausanne’s Bowl de Vidy
© Ondrej Kolacek/Red Bull Content Pool
09
Novi Sad, Serbia
Local artist Lena Jankov called the chance to create this design a “dream come true” and says that she hopes people everywhere will be inspired to come and play on the colourful court. Want more motivation? When you play in Novi Sad, you’re playing in the home town of 3x3 great Dušan Bulut.
Dusan Bulut on court in Novi Sad
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
10
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul-based mural artists Cins and Mert Tugen collaborated on this spectacular transformation that’s set in Kadıköy Yogurtçu Park. Bring your game here and you’ll not only be playing on the court where Turkey’s Red Bull Half Court champions were crowned – you’ll be balling in one of the few cities anywhere that bridges two continents (Europe and Asia).
Trees surround the renovated court in Istanbul
© Nuri Yılmazer/Red Bull Content Pool
Still in Turkey, Red Bull Half Court organisers partnered with the Mural Istanbul festival to transform three of the country's courts. Designer and muralist Max On Duty took inspiration from local legend Sinan Güler for his revamping of the court in Istanbul's Abbas Ağa Park. In Ankara, graffiti artist Esk Reyn created a masterpiece of colours and angles on a court in the city's Anıttepe Park. While in Bursa, street artist Mr. Hure was responsible for the abstract creation at Hüdavendigar Kent Park.
Ankara's court ready for some action
© Barış Acarlı/Red Bull Content Pool
The court in Izmir
© Mahmut Cinci/Red Bull Content Pool
11
Cairo, Egypt
In addition to the courts above that remain to serve their communities, the 2022 World Final at Cairo’s Pyramids of Giza brought to life a more ephemeral playground designed especially for the occasion by Egypt’s Ahmed (aka Nofal O) Nofal. While the pyramids basketball court in Egypt remained standing only as long as the tournament lasted, memories of the intense final rounds – as well as moments like this, when Lethal Shooter rained down buckets – will inspire ballers for a long time to come.
22 min
Ball is Life: 3on3 Showdown at the Pyramids
The Pyramids of Giza played host to the hoops community at the world’s biggest 3-on-3 streetball tournament.
Being part of Red Bull Half Court is the only way to compete on a World Final stage like this. You can keep up with all the news on the next edition right here.
12
Athlete court designs
Away from the courts, PISKV also helped standout ballers Dušan Bulut, Joey 'King Handles' Haywood, Paul Gudde, Li Tsz Kwan and Jamad Fiin bring their dream court visions to life in a different project after he produced numerous sketches by hand before creating the final illustration for each idea digitally.
1 min
Artist Francesco Persichella's Red Bull Half Court designs
Italian street artist Francesco Persichella aka PISKV shows off his skills creating fantasy basketball courts.
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