West Fourth Street Courts

The West Fourth Street Courts, commonly known as 'The Cage,' are outdoor basketball courts at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and West 3rd Street in Greenwich Village. The courts are among the most famous outdoor basketball venues in the world, known for their intense pick-up games and summer tournament leagues.

The courts gained their legendary reputation through the West 4th Street Summer Pro Classic, a tournament that has attracted top streetball players and occasional NBA professionals since the 1980s. The tournament's games, played in a small enclosed court surrounded by chain-link fence and bleachers packed with vocal spectators, have an atmosphere that rivals any arena.

The Cage's compact dimensions (the court is smaller than regulation NBA size) and chain-link enclosure create a uniquely claustrophobic and intense playing environment. The close quarters force a physical, half-court style of play that rewards skill, toughness, and the ability to perform under pressure from a crowd that is literally pressed against the court.

The courts have been featured in numerous basketball documentaries, films, and television programs, and they hold a special place in New York City basketball culture alongside Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem. Together, these two venues represent the pinnacle of New York streetball.

The West Fourth Street Courts sit at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, a neighborhood better known for its literary and bohemian heritage than for athletics. The courts' survival amid some of the most expensive real estate in the world is a testament to New York's love of basketball and the city's willingness to preserve spaces that serve the community's passion for the game.