Increase in Basketball participation across Australia highlights need for additional infrastructure

According to the latest AusPlay data, basketball has established itself as one of Australia's most popular sports, ranking as the second-highest team participation sport in Australia, boasting approximately 1.3 million players nationwide.

However, Basketball Australia notes this popularity has highlighted the need for additional facilities as usable court-space and infrastructure continues to trail demand.

For context, a recent report from Basketball New South Wales estimated that up to 150,000 players are missing out each year due to a lack of court space. Urban areas are particularly affected, where waitlists for junior competitions are growing, and some families are being turned away.

The new data on the rise in popularity of Basketball was collated by Sport Australia and revealed that 89% of Australian adults are now engaging in sport or physical activity each year. Among children, 76% participate in organised out-of-school sports, with basketball being one of the most popular choices for both boys and girls.

The sport’s surge can be attributed to the accessibility of the sport, schedule flexibility, and a unique culture of Australian basketball developing.

With formats ranging from 5-on-5, 3x3 and walking basketball, the game now caters to all demographics. Pleasingly, basketball participation among girls and women has increased by 25% since 2022, thanks to targeted initiatives like Lauren Jackson AO OLY’s She Hoops program.

Basketball ranks as one of the top five most played organised sports among children aged five - 14, with over 350,000 regular junior participants.

The sport is especially popular among culturally diverse communities, where it often ranks within the top three activities.

Australia’s strong presence in the NBA and WNBA has generated interest. Stars like Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, and Sami Whitcomb have become household names, inspiring a new generation.

The 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup hosted in Sydney drew over 145,000 attendees, and the 2024 Boomers Olympic qualifiers saw record domestic viewership.

Matt Scriven, Chief Executive Basketball Australia spoke to the unprecedented levels of engagement in the sport and importance of finding infrastructure solutions.

Scriven advised “our approach and actions to improving infrastructure will be one of the most important challenges in the history of basketball in Australia.

“We have enjoyed an incredible volume of participation growth in the last decade and it’s essential we find solutions to supplement court space.”

“Our success to meet the current demand will rely on unifying and establishing sustainable collaboration with States & Territories, Associations and connecting the intersections with Local, State & Federal tiers of Government.”

“It’s an exciting time and we need to make sure all stakeholders are empowered for the journey ahead.”

Executive GM of Member Relations & Game Development at Basketball Australia, David Simpson, was pleased to see the reports reflected what he was hearing within the game development space.

“I think this is a really accurate reflection on the popularity of the sport. We are seeing more and more people engaging in basketball each and every year, particularly those from diverse backgrounds,” added Simpson.

“Our flagship Ford Aussie Hoops program is growing at an even greater rate than the numbers presented in the AusPlay data, reflecting the popularity of the sport with the younger generations and setting them up for lifelong participation in basketball.”

“And our recently launched Federal Government funded Ability Hoops program is growing rapidly, providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to enter the sport in a safe and welcoming environment. The outlook for our sport is incredibly positive and the numbers are only going to keep going up.”

As Australia prepares for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, World Cups, and Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, the growth of basketball looks set to continue. But without investment in infrastructure and facilities, it risks leaving thousands of Australians courtside.

The Australian Sports Commission data on basketball from July 2023 onwards can be accessed here.