West 4th Street Basketball Courts

Also known as ‘the Cage,’ this small basketball court that stands enclosed within chain-link fencing is home to some of the best streetball in the country. Though it’s more touristy than its counterpart, Rucker Park in Harlem, that’s also part of its charm, as the games held here in the center of the Village draw massive, excitable crowds, who often stand 10-deep to hoot and holler for the skilled, competitive guys who play here. Prime time is summer, when the W 4th St Summer Pro-Classic League, with daily high-energy games, hits the scene. While the height of this court’s popularity was back in 2001 – the year Nike capitalized on the raw energy of the place by shooting a commercial here – b’ball-lovin’ throngs still storm the place on weekends.