At the moment, basketball is one of the most popular sports on the planet. In fact, in the United States alone, about 26 million people play it, 1,900 of which play in tournaments on various instances. Either way, people love playing basketball, however, there are a lot of people who simply don’t understand this passion. In order to shed at least some light on this topic, here are several reasons why people love to play basketball.

It’s a social activity

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that playing basketball is also a social activity. Regardless if you’re playing 1 on 1 or have teams of 2, 3 or 5 people, the truth is that this is a great excuse for you to hang out with others. The nature of this socializing is quite unique, as well. Dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline will be rushing, which makes the entire experience much more cordial. Even if an argument breaks out due to the high level of competitiveness, these interactions are genuine and straightforward, which is a rare commodity in today’s world. For these reasons alone, a lot of entrepreneurs are using basketball as a teambuilding activity.

It’s a fun way to stay fit

The next thing worth keeping in mind is that playing basketball tends to be an incredibly fun way to stay fit. You see, a lot of people would love to run or lift weights if they didn’t find the experiences themselves to be incredibly dull, boring and repetitive. Basketball is all but these things. The sport itself is dynamic and entertaining, which is why It helps you develop both your motor and your mental abilities. This is because the game itself is all about precision, perception and mind-games, not just physical prowess. Finally, every game is a session for itself, which is why you need to stay sharp at all times.

It makes watching basketball more entertaining

A lot of people like watching basketball, however, the experience itself becomes much more entertaining when you actually play the sport. You see, Bill Murray once suggested that there should always be one regular person competing in the Olympics, merely as a reference point. Once you start playing the game yourself, you’ll appreciate great moves and strategies a lot more than you already do. The in-depth knowledge of each playstyle will make it easier for you to pick your favorite team. From that point on, you can order basketball jerseys for you and your crew and go into a full-fan mode.

It’s inexpensive and accessible

One of the best things about basketball is that the sport itself is quite inexpensive and accessible. You see, there are courts all over town and all you really need in order to play the game are the court and the hoop. Sure, having adequate sneakers, a proper jersey, basketball shorts, etc. can help you become more competitive but all of these items aren’t mandatory. Furthermore, you don’t have to order them all at the same time. You can get an item each several months and these pieces of equipment might last you for a while. In other words, pragmatic and budget-friendly would be the perfect two terms to describe playing basketball.

Simple rules and easy to learn fundamentals

The last thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that basketball has incredibly beginner-friendly rules and it’s quite easy to master fundamentals. Look at it this way, becoming a world-class basketball player is an incredibly complex task, on the other hand, learning the fundamentals of basketball takes a lot less time than if you were to start learning polo or golfing. In fact, it may take you a brief rule explanation in order for you to be able to play your very first game. Sure, you would make so many penalties and not be any good but the game experience would be there for sure.

In the end, it’s all about personal preference. You see, there’s a reason why so many people feel passion for so many different things. If basketball isn’t your thing, there’s really no point in trying, however, the above-discussed list should at least help you understand those who do love the sport a tad more. Just remember that the above-listed isn’t exclusive to basketball and once you find your sport, you’ll be able to reap at least some of these benefits from it, as well.