Basketball courts play a unique role in Hong Kong’s high-density urban fabric, offering opportunities for sports and socialising in every neighbourhood within the territory. This study examines their historical roots and development in colonial Hong Kong, increasing socio-political significance, and widespread urban integration through contemporary urban planning. It investigates how basketball, introduced in 1918 by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), became a cornerstone of community life, particularly in public housing estates and New Towns developed from the 1970s onward. The analysis highlights the interplay between government policies—such as the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) and "Sports for All" initiatives—and grassroots demand, revealing tensions between standardized provision and localized needs. While basketball courts are celebrated as cost-effective social infrastructure fostering health and community bonding, the study finds tensions around spatial inequities, rigid planning frameworks, and the underutilisation of school facilities. Case studies of innovative court designs demonstrate adaptive strategies for inclusive public space in constrained environments. Ultimately, the study positions Hong Kong’s basketball courts as a microcosm of broader urban challenges, offering lessons for equitable, participatory planning in high-density cities worldwide.