The 10 Best Basketball Rims

Editor's Notes

March 29, 2019:

Durability and safety are the two main considerations when purchasing a basketball rim. The first is pretty simple: a good goal has a powder-coated exterior, uses rust-resistant fasteners and hinges, and is made with good manufacturing procedures. The safety part goes to multiple different levels based on who'll be using the hoop. The vast majority of residential setups won't need much more than the Spalding Arena model, as it's well-made and can handle a few slam-dunks every now and then. If you're on a thinner budget, the Lifetime is also a good option, though it doesn't have a lot of flex, and it can't be adjusted to different spring tensions. If some big boys will be dunking a lot, but won't be having team practice for multiple hours a day, the Goalzilla is an excellent and durable choice.

If the hoop will see use by full-size athletes on a regular basis, though, or if it'll be used in an institution that requires its hardware to meet regulations, you should probably step up a level or two. Plus, the closer a rim is to professional-grade, the better it can be at preparing youngsters for their time in college, overseas, or in rare cases, the NBA. To that end, Jaypro makes some excellent options that are, for the most part, reasonably priced. They introduce adjustable springs and snag-free net connectors without charging a ton of cash. Their rims are no strangers to high school gyms or AAU leagues. Bison is in a very similar position. A further step up is Gared. Gared makes some of the absolute finest glass backboards on the market, and their 4000 model rim is one of the top goals available. For the very finest and most authentic experience, check out the Porter Athletic Torq-Flex 180, which is in use at a number of top-level Division I college basketball arenas. But it will cost you, and therefore is probably only on your radar if you're outfitting a high-end gym for a relatively deep-pocketed organization.