Rucker Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holcombe Rucker Park |
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Rucker Park in 2008, with Frederick Douglass Boulevard at left
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| Location | Manhattan, New York City |
| Area | 3.05 acres (1.23 ha) |
| Owned by | NYC Parks |
Holcombe Rucker Park is a famous outdoor basketball court in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. This court is special because many amazing basketball players have played here. Some even became stars in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The park is right next to a tall cliff called Coogan's Bluff. Many players who competed in the Rucker Tournament became very well-known for their basketball skills. This park was even featured in a TV film called On Hallowed Ground: Streetball Champions of Rucker Park in 2000. It also appeared in the 2018 movie Uncle Drew.
History of Rucker Park
The basketball court is named after Holcombe Rucker. He was a local teacher and also worked for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Rucker started a special basketball tournament way back in 1950. His main goal was to help kids who didn't have many opportunities. He wanted to keep them busy and encourage them to go to college.
The players in the Rucker Tournament were known for their exciting style. They would do amazing slam dunks and fancy crossover dribbles. Their bold and exciting way of playing was very different from what people usually saw in the National Basketball Association (NBA) at the time. The crowds absolutely loved watching them play!
Famous Players at Rucker Park
Many professional basketball players have played at Rucker Park. Some were already famous when they played there. But many others actually improved their skills at Rucker Park before they became well-known in the sport. Here are some of the incredible athletes who played on this court:
