Basketball Gear: The Complete Basketball Equipment List

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The squeak of new shoes on a freshly swept gym floor is one of the best sounds in sports. Getting there takes a little planning: shoes that fit, a ball the right size, maybe an ankle brace after last season’s sprain, and something for your legs after the game. Basketball is a cheap sport to start, but the right basketball gear matters for safety and for how the game feels. Here’s a simple basketball equipment list: how to choose shoes, what ankle braces really do, which ball size and type to buy, knee sleeves and mouthguards, a quick word on home hoops, and the recovery kit for tournament weekends.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

The quick checklist: court shoes that fit, a ball of the right size (indoor or outdoor), an ankle brace if you’ve sprained an ankle before, a mouthguard, a labeled water bottle, a snack, and slides for after. Jewelry comes off for games: NFHS high school rules prohibit it.

Our top picks

Basketball shoes and ankle support

Court shoes are built for side-to-side moves and quick stops, with a solid tread for grip. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes that high-cut court shoes can add stability during jumping and landing. But don’t count on a high-top alone to prevent sprains. In a randomized study of 622 college intramural players, ankle sprain rates were about the same in high-tops and low-tops. Fit matters more than cut or brand. The AAOS fit tips work well for basketball:

• Shop late in the day, when feet are at their biggest, and wear the socks you play in (plus your brace, if you wear one).
• Leave at least half an inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, with room to wiggle your toes.
• The heel should be held firmly and shouldn’t slip. Lace the shoes up fully when you try them.
• Kids’ feet grow fast, so check fit every season. A shoe that has lost its grip on the gym floor is a slipping risk.

Shoe models change every year and fit is personal, so we don’t push a single shoe. Try them on with your game socks and buy the pair that feels secure on a hard cut.

Ankle braces: who should wear one

Ankle sprains are basketball’s signature injury, and this is one area where the research is fairly clear. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends that athletes with a history of ankle sprains wear a brace or tape for all practices and games, and says lace-up braces, semi-rigid braces and taping all reduce repeat sprains. It also recommends balance and neuromuscular training to cut the risk. In a randomized trial of 1,460 high school basketball players at 46 schools (McGuine and colleagues, 2011), lace-up ankle braces reduced how often acute ankle injuries happened, in players with and without a previous sprain. They didn’t make the injuries that did happen less severe. Three good options:

• McDavid 195: a light lace-up brace with figure-8 straps that mimic athletic tape. You can tighten the straps without relacing, and it fits either foot. About $35 to $50 depending on the store.
• ASO EVO: a low-profile lace-up stabilizer with a stirrup strap, figure-8 straps and a cuff, built to fit inside any shoe and either foot. About $40.
• Zamst A2-DX: a left/right-specific brace with molded side guards, rated “strong” support by Zamst for players with past high or recurring sprains. About $75 at Zamst.

Braces are support gear, not treatment. If an ankle is swollen, painful to walk on, or keeps giving way, see a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer before you play on it. Our best ankle brace for athletes guide compares more braces, and the basketball injuries page covers sprains and return to play.

Check the McDavid 195 price on Amazon

Basketballs: size 5, 6 or 7, indoor or outdoor

Ball size	Circumference	Who uses it
Size 5	27.5 in	Younger kids (Wilson: about age 8 and under)
Size 6	28.5 in	Girls and women from about 9; boys about 9–11; high school girls (NFHS: 28.5–29 in)
Size 7	29.5 in	Boys and men from about 12; high school boys (NFHS: 29.5–30 in)

The ages come from Wilson’s size chart, and the high school ranges from the NFHS rulebook. USA Basketball’s youth guidelines use a size 6 ball and a 9-foot basket for boys and girls aged 9–11. Leagues differ, so check with yours. High school game balls also need the NFHS Authenticating Mark.

Then pick by surface. Indoor balls use leather or composite covers designed for smooth hardwood. Rough asphalt and concrete wear covers down, which is why outdoor balls are usually rubber. The Wilson Evolution is a gym-bag classic: a microfiber composite cover, a cushion core for a soft feel, and sizes 28.5 and 29.5 in, for about $100. Outdoor balls use tough rubber covers built for asphalt and weather. The Wilson NBA DRV line comes in sizes from mini to 7, with a lining that holds air longer, and the basic models cost about $25. Many families keep one of each.

Check the Wilson Evolution price on Amazon

Check the Wilson NBA DRV price on Amazon

Knee sleeves and mouthguards

Knee sleeves and pads. Lots of players wear padded sleeves for floor burns and knee-on-floor dives, and simple compression sleeves because they like the snug feel. The McDavid HEX knee pads are compression leg sleeves with hex-pattern foam over the knee, sold in pairs in youth and adult sizes for about $30 to $40. A sleeve is comfort and protection from bumps, not a fix for knee pain. Knee pain that keeps coming back in a jumping athlete deserves a check with a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist. More options are in our best knee sleeves guide.

Mouthguards. Basketball is on the American Dental Association’s list of sports where mouthguards are recommended, and the ADA notes that one study found basketball players had the highest rate of dental injuries. NFHS added rule 3-5-8 for the 2024–25 season recommending a mouthguard. It isn’t required nationally, but state associations can make it required. The ADA ranks custom guards from a dentist best, boil-and-bite guards next, and ready-made stock guards last. The Shock Doctor Gel Max is a boil-and-bite guard with a gel liner, sold in youth and adult (11+) sizes for about $16.

Check the Shock Doctor Gel Max price on Amazon

Home hoops, briefly

The regulation rim is 10 feet. USA Basketball’s guidelines put 9–11-year-olds on a 9-foot basket, so an adjustable hoop grows with your kids. Portable hoops with a base you fill with sand or water are the easy option for a driveway. The Lifetime 44-inch Impact portable hoop adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet without tools, has a fillable base and a 5-year warranty, and costs about $155 to $190. In-ground hoops with glass backboards play better but cost much more and need installation. Whatever you buy, anchor or fill the base as the maker says, and don’t let kids hang on the rim.

Check the Lifetime portable hoop price on Amazon

Recovery gear for the bag

After a doubleheader, tight shoes come off and comfort takes over. Recovery slides like the OOFOS OOahh (about $60, washable, with the APMA Seal of Acceptance) are a bench favorite. Many players also carry a small massage gun such as the Hypervolt Go 3 (about $149, 1.6 lb, up to 4 hours of battery) for calves and quads between tournament games. These are comfort tools, not treatment. If something hurts for more than a few days, see a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer. Our best recovery shoes and best massage guns guides compare more, and the basketball recovery page covers the routine.

Check the OOFOS OOahh Slide price on Amazon

Check the Hypervolt Go 3 price on Amazon

Back to the basketball hub, or see basketball injuries, youth basketball, the best basketball wearables and basketball nutrition. Also play soccer? See our soccer gear list.

Basketball gear questions

What size basketball should my child use?

Wilson’s chart suggests size 5 (27.5 in) for about age 8 and under, size 6 (28.5 in) for boys about 9–11 and girls 9 and up, and size 7 (29.5 in) for boys 12 and up. USA Basketball uses a size 6 ball for ages 9–11. Check your league’s rules.

Do high-top basketball shoes prevent ankle sprains?

Not on their own. A randomized study of 622 college intramural players found no meaningful difference in sprain rates between high-tops and low-tops. For players with a past sprain, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends an ankle brace or tape, plus balance training.

Should basketball players wear ankle braces?

Players who have sprained an ankle before are advised to brace or tape for all practices and games. A large high school trial also found fewer acute ankle injuries in braced players without a past sprain. Talk to your athletic trainer or physical therapist about the right brace for you.

Can you use an indoor basketball outside?

You can, but indoor balls are designed for smooth hardwood, and rough asphalt and concrete wear their covers down. Rubber outdoor balls are built for those surfaces, so keep your good indoor ball for the gym.

Are mouthguards required in high school basketball?

Not nationally. NFHS rule 3-5-8 recommends one, and state associations can require them, so check your state. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for basketball.