Where Streetball Becomes Sculpture

The basketball hoops I photographed in Courtside Candy weren’t made in factories or sponsored by brands. They were made by an artist (Nick Ansom), welded together in backyards, bolted to alleyway walls, and patched together with whatever materials were around; bike rims, plywood scraps, milk crates, rusted steel. In Venice Beach, this isn’t junk. It’s basketball art.

Each hoop reflects a specific personality. Sometimes playful, sometimes gritty, always creative. They’re part of a larger story about the culture of the game. These aren’t just functional backboards; they’re sculptures. And like all good art, they say something about the people who built them.

Venice Beach: A Legacy of Basketball and Creativity

Venice Beach has always been more than a postcard, it’s one of the most iconic basketball communities in the country. It’s where pickup games turn into performances, and where the court is as much a canvas as the chaos and mural-covered buildings around it.

Courtside Candy lives in that space between sport and expression. The hoops in this series represent the DIY spirit that runs through Venice’s streetball scene. They speak to resourcefulness, style, and the love of the game without any need for polish or perfection. In a place where surfing, skateboarding, painting, music, and basketball all collide, these hoops feel right at home.

About the Courtside Candy Book

The Courtside Candy book is a visual archive of this subculture, a historic collection representing the culture of basketball, celebrating the infinite ways the game has been translated into art by people all over the world.

Each piece unique on its own, but collectively, and along with the beautiful writing by Ben Osborne, the book tells a different and vitally important story about the games influence.

Click here to view and purchase available prints or contact me directly if you’d like a basketball print of any photograph not already listed.

Venice Beach Basketball Courts & the Venice Basketball League

There are places where basketball feels bigger than the game itself, and Venice Beach Basketball Courts is one of them. The courts sit just steps from the Pacific, surrounded by noise, movement, and a constant flow of people, but once a game starts, everything narrows in. The Venice Basketball League has been played here for decades, drawing a mix of locals, pros, and travelers into something that feels equal parts competition and performance.

Where Streetball Becomes a Stage

There’s a rabid energy to these courts that you don’t find anywhere else. Games unfold with an audience just feet away—tourists, regulars, salty characters, players waiting for the next run—all watching closely. Every possession matters, but so does how it looks. Style, confidence, and presence carry as much weight as the score. Make no mistake, ball in Venice is a show!

The setting adds to it. Ocean air moves through the courts, music drifts in from the boardwalk, and the light changes quickly as the sun drops behind the horizon. It’s not just a place to play—it’s a place to be seen.

The Venice Basketball League

The Venice Basketball League has built a reputation as one of the most competitive outdoor leagues in the country. Games are physical, fast, and often unpredictable. You’ll see former college players, overseas pros, and local legends sharing the same court.

What makes it different isn’t just the level of play—it’s the environment. There’s no separation between players and spectators. The energy sits right on top of the game, and you feel it in every possession.

Basketball as a Universal Language

Over the years, I’ve photographed basketball in small towns, backyards, alleys, and places most people would never think to look. What stands out in Venice is how all of that comes together in one place.

People from all over the world pass through these courts, but the game stays the same. No introductions needed. You step on the court, and you understand the rules immediately. It’s one of the clearest examples of how basketball connects people across completely different backgrounds.

More Venice Beach Basketball Photography

Over the years I’ve linked up with Nick Ansom on a number of fun projects, including his “Survival Hoops” - a collection of hoops made from junk then hung in the alleyways of Venice.

View the hidden alley basketball hoops of Venice

Part of a Larger Project: American Backcourts

These photographs are part of a long-term body of work documenting basketball hoops and courts across the country. While much of that work focuses on quiet, overlooked places—barns, driveways, rural towns—Venice Beach sits at the opposite end of that spectrum.

It’s loud. It’s visible. It’s constantly moving.

But it’s the same game.

That contrast is what ties it all together. Whether it’s a handmade hoop in a small town or a packed court on the California coast, the feeling is consistent. The game shows up everywhere.

→ View the full collection of basketball culture photography
→ Inquire about editorial and commercial image licensing

If you’re interested in seeing how this fits into the broader series, you can view the full project here:

→ American Backcourts