The Best Outdoor Courts for Playing Pick-Up Basketball in L.A.

Image via Complex Original

What can spice up a basketball game like an occasional celebrity sighting? Located close to Hollywood, players at the Pan Pacific Park are definitely within star-watching range. Manny Pacquiao ran here before he lost to Floyd Mayweather. But with full-sized courts and a great view of the California hills, Pan Pacific Park still works for those who could care less about celebrities. Hopefully your pick-up games work out better than that bout did for Pacquiao.

These parts have a little bit of everything: Tennis courts, a baseball diamond, an indoor gym. This is your spot if you want to try some sort of weird, multi-sport triathlon. But you should be good if you only want to stick to basketball. There’s a variety of competition here, so you don’t need to be the best of the best to get a W—although that certainly helps.

Venice Beach will always have a place in history because it hosted a decisive moment in racial affairs. Before he became the second truest detective, Woody Harrelson joined forces with Wesley Snipes to hustle at Venice Beach in White Men Can’t Jump. The courts’ fame doesn’t just come from fiction; it’s also known for the fierce competition brought by its tournaments. Even if your game isn’t quite good enough to hang with the best, you can at least appreciate the beautiful locale. You are in Venice Beach, after all.

This is a set of large courts that’s always good for a game of pick-up ball. They’re also lighted courts, which helps prevent injuries after sunset. Stray away from this one if you’re allergic to children and dogs; the nearby playground and pooch path are also put to good use.

This gem at Santa Monica brings forth solid competition throughout the week. But these courts are right next to the Pacific Ocean, which means that ocean breeze might disrespect your jump shot. Still, you get a view of the Pacific Ocean. So you should be able to forgive a few missed jump shots after looking at that sunset.