Basketball Gyms Near Me

Personal note from me, Ryan, owner of GYMSCOMPARED.COM:
       After I had left my job at one of the most popular gym chains in the country, I no longer had access to their gyms—go figure. Well, one huge problem was that I also no longer had a place to hoop. And, no, it's not like I'm a D1, let alone D3 caliber player—I just loved getting on the court for some pickup games with local folks.
     I fired up Google and low-and-behold, it was super difficult to find a gym, or even a hoop nearby to play. I knew all the local parks, but my advancing age (lol) didn't want sore knees and refused to play on cement. I started my research noting down every hoop I could find and eventually figured that someone else would want this list, too.
     So, GYMSCOMPARED.COM was born: a place to find your favorite sport/escape/passion, hosted at a gym. I DID find a spot nearby, and couldn't be happier. If you've ever said aloud, "Is there a basketball ball gym near me?"—you're in the right spot. Good luck to you and see you on the court!

—Ryan‍

What gyms have basketball?

Not many. Here's why: Regulation courts are a huge 94 x 50ft—gigantic space that gyms usually fill with strength and cardio areas first. They may also prioritize Group Fitness or Cycling classes instead. Even a smaller half-court, college or high-school sized play area may be difficult for some gyms to accommodate.

So, finding your new basketball home is difficult—but not impossible. Here's where you can get your hoop on:

Some locations in these gym chains have basketball.

24 Hour Fitness (187 total)
Bay Club (12 locations)
California Family Fitness (14 gyms)
Chuze Fitness (7 gyms)
City Sports Club (14 total)
Crunch Fitness (9 gyms)
EoS Fitness (114 gyms)
Equinox
Esporta Fitness (114 locations)
Fitness Connection (27 locations)
Gold's Gym (25 locations)
In-Shape (4 gyms)
LA Fitness (391 gyms)
Life Time
New York Sports Club (6 gyms)
Onelife (12 total)
UFC Gym (3 locations)
VASA (44 gyms)

No locations in these gym chains have basketball.

Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Blink Fitness
Edge Fitness
Fitness 19
Fitness SF
O2 Fitness
Planet Fitness
Retro Fitness
Snap Fitness
UFC Gyms
Valley Fitness
YouFit Gyms

Well, why don't they have basketball courts?

Their amenities focus more on individual strength training, cardio training, group training, etc.
Cost to maintain courts, equipment and possibly the reservation systems
Literally no space at their clubs! Or, hardwood amenities like Group Fitness, yoga or dance take priority.

Boutique fitness centers—higher-priced with the absolute fullest amenities list—such as Life Time and Equinox have larger facilities, often full-sized buildings that they own. Courts are plentiful and usually a staple of their offerings.
Mid-priced gyms ($30 to $50+ monthly) also usually have larger buildings and facilities, and in-turn can host basketball with ease. Chains like 24 Hour Fitness, California Family Fitness, VASA and In-Shape offer basketball, but not at all of their locations.
HVLP (high value, low price) chains like Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness and Crunch usually don't have basketball courts.

Benefits of gyms with basketball

Nothing like clean hardwood, regulation lines, a single-rim and a wide backboard. Basketball addicts are picky and want the above (or are old like me and their knees hurt from playing on cement).

Whatever your situation, there's a serene feeling hooping on hardwood. Here are a few reasons why you might like playing at a gym indoors:

Ultra convenient: Having a court just steps away from the gym floor is such a cheat code. Hoopers know on busy days you may be waiting a while to get on. But, you can walk onto the court, call out "next," and hit the weights nearby to maximize your time.
Warm up muscles easier: Sauna & steam rooms work well to loosen and prep muscles. Stepping into one for a few minutes is a great warm-up before a few runs on the court. (Some do prefer the reverse: on-court play/work and a
Cool and soothe sore body parts: Let's be honest: sometimes you get carried away and end up on the court for few hours! Diving into a pool—or even a cold shower—serves as a great post workout recovery routine. There really is nowhere else you can find this amenity combo: except at a gym!
Social fun: A sport played alongside teammates, basketball by nature is cohesive, complementary and much more fun when in a group. Sure, you can shoot around and do drills to hone your talents, but the game itself is much more entertaining with some of your buddies. Now, imagine your same hoop homies are your gym rats, too. You'll appreciate the community, team, and togetherness aspects much more.
Shoot hoops anytime: If you're lucky enough to find a hoop at a gym that is open 24-hours-a-day, well, that means you can practice your shot late into the night or early in the AM. I've spent countless mornings at 6am on a full court all by myself (with AirPods!) and it's pure bliss.

What to expect on the courts

All the same rules of basketball apply. But pickup basketball has a few twists: call your own fouls. No free-throws. No clocks. Games usually go to 11 by 1's, or 21 by 1's and 2's.

Full court games you should see runs of 5-on-5. Half court games usually max out at 4-on-4, with 3-on-3, 2-on-2 and 1-on-1 possible as well. Winners stay on—meaning the team who just won gets to play the next group.