the history and information about streetball

Rucker Park in New York City will always been considered as the home of the best streetball players in the USA. Rucker park is the home of the original Rucker Tournament and Pro League and has hosted the Entertainer's Basketball Classic since the 1980's.  

Over the years, players like Kareem, Wilt, Erving, Pee Wee Kirkland, Monroe, Marbury, Joe "The Destroyer" Hammond, the Goat, Brand, Artest, Tinsley all played here.

"Street Basketball" or Black Basketball had its beginning in Washington, DC and New York City in the early 1900s. The talent and perseverance of the players from these two cities saw the establishment of amateur leagues such as the Black Basketball League, Washington's Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Basketball was not the only entertainment in the early days of "street ball" as a stage was also present in most basketball gyms/halls and a performing live band usually kept the crowd occupied. After the games, the audience took to the floors and danced as the bands played the latest pop songs. Game organizers and promoters soon saw that Streetball could be a very profitable business and the fine line between professional and amateur was crossed.