Basketball in Queensland is experiencing a surge in popularity, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing sports in the state. This growth mirrors a national trend, with basketball ranking as Australia’s second most popular team sport, boasting over 1.3 million participants nationwide.

The 2023-2024 AusPlay report underscores Queensland's love for the game, placing basketball as the second most popular team sport for both children and adults. With over 210,000 participants, basketball is firmly entrenched in the top five most popular sports overall in the state.

Basketball Queensland CEO, Joshua Pascoe, noted basketball’s ability to foster a sense of community as one of the key factors driving growth in Queensland.

“Basketball clubs and associations across the state provide opportunities for people to connect with others who share their passion for the sport. Another factor is basketball’s ability to transcend its role as a physical activity to become a cultural statement off the court, whether it is fashion, fandom or influence, basketball is more than a game.”

In addition, school basketball programs remain strong, with basketball as the number one requested and delivered sport within the Sporting Schools Program within Queensland, a program that brings sports to children free of charge during school hours.

Despite the positive momentum, there are still challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the continued growth of basketball in Queensland. One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of quality basketball facilities, particularly in regional areas. Basketball Queensland is working hard to address this issue through increased investment in basketball infrastructure.

This includes the introduction of programs such as the Facility Project Accelerator Fund, which recognises the critical need for improved and accessible facilities. This fund aims to assist associations with essential planning and advocacy work for their facility projects, with ten associations selected to receive up to $15,000 each towards infrastructure projects.

“Overall, there are nearly 30 projects in various stages of planning and development across the State. However, even with delivery of these projects, there will remain a deficiency of courts to meet current demand,” Pascoe said.

Given the rapid growth in participation in basketball in Queensland, the current shortfall of courts across Queensland is approximately 235 courts, with most of the shortfall occurring in the south-east of the state. With the known number of courts currently in the pipeline to be developed mapped against the expected 2030 population of Queensland, this shortfall is likely to expand to a minimum of 260 courts by the end of the decade.

“We know that thousands of young girls and boys are sitting on waiting lists and/or missing out on court time each week because of the shortfall in courts.”

With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon and a growing number of participants, Basketball Queensland is committed to working with the various level of Government in expanding access to the sport by increasing the number of courts and facilities across the state.

By working collaboratively, Basketball Queensland, its member associations, and the wider basketball community can continue to build on the sport’s success and inspire future generations of basketball players.

More about the 2023-24 AusPlay Report:

The recent AusPlay report provides valuable insights into the nation's sporting landscape, investigates trends shaping the future of sport and physical activity.

Data collected from July 2023 to June 2024 revealed that over 40,000 adults (aged 15 and older) participated in the survey. Additionally, data was gathered through parents and guardians for approximately 8,800 children aged 14 and under.

For a comprehensive look at basketball's growth from 2015 to 2023, explore the full AusPlay basketball report here.