West Fourth Street Courts facts for kids
The West Fourth Street Courts, also known as "The Cage", is a famous outdoor basketball court in New York City. It's located in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan. Many people consider "The Cage" a very important place for amateur basketball games. It's especially known for its "Streetball" tournaments. The court is a bit smaller than regular basketball courts.
Because the court is small, players often play very close to each other. This means there's a lot of physical play. Players sometimes ignore the sidelines during games. Many people want to play here, so getting a spot on the court is tough. If a team loses, they usually don't get another chance to play right away.
The courts are built right over a New York City Subway station. It's the West Fourth Street–Washington Square station (A B C D E F M trains). The subway entrance is very close to the courts.
The West 4th Street League, started by Kenny Graham, has made its own history. Famous players like Dr. J, Walter Berry, and Jayson Williams have played at The Cage. Anthony Mason's team won five championships in the early 1990s. Officials at West 4th Street believe that over 100,000 fans watch their league each summer. This is similar to how many people watched Rucker Park in its best years. The players at West 4th are very talented, but the court is too small for all the action. Some visitors might think it looks like a wrestling match. If you don't like a physical style of basketball, stay away from West 4th.
—A-Train
The Cage in Pop Culture
The Cage has been featured in many national commercials. Former NBA players like Anthony Mason and Smush Parker learned their tough playing style at The Cage. The court is also shown in the video game NBA Street V3, where you can play games on it.
