Can Muslims play basketball?

Yes, Muslims can play basketball. It's a healthy team sport with nothing forbidden in it. Just wear shorts that cover from the navel to the knee, be careful about mixed pickup games with physical contact, and fit your prayers around practice and games.

Basketball is fine in principle

In Islam, activities are allowed unless there is a clear reason to forbid them, and basketball has none. It builds fitness, teamwork and discipline, and plenty of Muslim players compete in schools, colleges and leagues across the USA and Europe. Join with a good intention, such as staying strong for your family and your worship, and it becomes more than a hobby.

The shorts question

Basketball kit is famous for loose shorts, and some are short. Most scholars say a man's awrah is from the navel to the knees, so:

Choose shorts that reach the knee, or wear leggings or compression tights underneath. See Can I still wear shorts to the gym as a Muslim?
Sleeveless jerseys are generally acceptable for men outside prayer. Many scholars prefer covering the shoulders when you pray, so keep a t-shirt in your bag.
If your team uniform is too short, ask the coach for a longer size. Most coaches say yes when you ask politely.

Pickup games and mixed teams

Basketball involves constant close contact: screens, boxing out and guarding someone tightly. That is where most scholars raise concern if the game is mixed, since physical contact between unrelated men and women is best avoided. Easy solutions are:

Join a men's or women's league, which most schools, gyms and community centres run.
Look for mosque or youth-centre teams, which are often single-gender.
If a mixed casual game is unavoidable, keep it light-contact and lower your gaze.

Scholars differ on how strict to be about mixed sport in general. See Can I still play on a mixed sports team as a Muslim?

Fitting in prayer

Evening practices often overlap with Maghrib, and weekend tournaments can swallow Dhuhr and Asr. The Quran reminds us:

إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا "Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times." Quran 4:103

Pray before practice or ask the coach for a five-minute break. Sweat doesn't make you impure, and a clean corner of the gym or a sideline is enough with a jacket or towel. See How do I pray during a sports tournament?

Keeping your cool on court

Basketball is fast and emotional, with fouls, referees and trash talk. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6114). Play hard, shake hands afterwards and leave insults off the court.

Key points

Basketball is allowed and healthy.
Men cover from the navel to the knee, so choose longer shorts or tights.
Prefer single-gender games because of the close contact.
Pray each prayer in its time and control your temper.

Tip: Keep a bag with knee-length shorts, a t-shirt and a small towel to pray on. Tell your coach about your prayer times at the start of the season so there are no surprises.