Whether you’re a fan of the NBA, the WNBA, or NCAA college basketball, you probably already know that hardwood basketball court designs have become a point of pride for teams throughout the leagues. Basketball teams often design their home courts using specific wood pattern installations, various staining techniques, and detailed paint artistry to achieve impressive logos and images that capture and dominate the sport.

Hard maple is a durable, stable, and wood floor species preferred by those in the sport. Since the invention of the uniquely American sport of basketball in the late 1800s, hard maple has been the standard flooring material used in the construction of basketball courts. It has also helped countless basketball teams in their effort to create distinct, unique signature looks, all their own.

In this post, we will share a list of eight of our favorite hardwood basketball court designs. We chose these designs based on creativity, uniqueness, and overall originality. We present them to you, the reader, in no particular order.

Hardwood Court Design #1: San Jose State University Spartans

The San Jose State University Spartans home court at the Provident Credit Union Event Center is well-recognized for its intricately-detailed hardwood basketball court design, accurately reflecting the team’s brand image.

Requiring more than three months of work, entirely new painting techniques, and costing more than $250,000, this hardwood basketball court is a testament to the team’s desire to create a basketball court that is a conversation piece in and of itself.

The detailed image of the five Spartans depicted on the hardwood floor is breathtaking, right down to the patina in their shields and the texture of their skin. The contrast created by using varied shades of wood-floor staining inside the court’s three-point range is also noteworthy.

Hardwood Court Design #2: James Madison University Dukes

James Madison University took the hardwood basketball court at Atlantic Union Bank Center to the next level of creativity by asking Dukes fans to submit their own design ideas. Dukes fan Becky Taylor came up with the current design, which incorporates several aspects of the school’s history.

The team’s mascot, Duke Dog, appears in both corners of the court, and the school colors stain the maple hardwood. This technique gives it a more natural look while allowing the lines of the court to remain prominent. 

The rest of the hardwood court floor features naturally varied shades of hardwood, which is visually stimulating, and the signature of James Madison himself appears twice in the design of the court.

Hardwood Court Design #3: The Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have one of the most eye-catching designs in the NBA, even though it is simple and avoids being too flashy. This beautiful hardwood court at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn features maple that varies in shades of brown, even within the same plank. The court features a beutiful chevron hardwood installation, setting it apart from other courts in the league.

The court’s baselines frequently change. At one point, it paid homage to the NYC subway system by featuring the team’s name in a subway tiles mosaic design. It is truly one of the most unique hardwood basketball court designs in the entire league.

Hardwood Court Design #4: The Charlotte Hornets

During the 2018/2019 season, the Charlotte Hornets designed a court specifically for “Classic Night” themed games at the Spectrum Center. This hardwood basketball court design was a throwback to the franchise’s history and paid homage to some of its most famous players.

The court featured the team’s colors integrated into the three-point range and baseline, with a beautifully painted gradient between colors. The key has a honeycomb design painted in, which is minimalistic compared to the court’s typical all-over wood-stained honeycomb design.

The court’s center logo featured a 30th-anniversary tribute to the team.

Hardwood Court Design #5: The Florida International University Panthers

Florida International University Panthers fans saw their team’s hardwood basketball court at FIU Ocean Bank Arena get a significant upgrade in 2013 when it went from a plain, no-frills hardwood floor to a serene beach scene.

This maple hardwood court brings the relaxing Florida lifestyle to life, with palm fronds and rolling waves depicted in the design. These breathtaking images were painted onto the wood, layer by layer, to ensure proper variations in the shades of blue in the water.

Hardwood Court Design #6: The Boston Celtics

Like the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics have a simple hardwood court at TD Garden, but the wood used in the design makes it so unique.

For starters, the Celtics are the only team in the NBA that does not use hard maple for their court floor. Instead, the Celtics use red oak wood flooring. The parquet wood floor installation has a checkerboard feel with planks installed in alternating squares, giving the court a genuinely unique look that varies in tone. The court features the team’s signature green color in the key and baseline.

Since the team’s inception, the Celtics have been using this design, and pieces of the original parquet floor are still present today.

Hardwood Court Design #7: California State University at Northridge Matadors

The California State University at Northridge Matadome basketball court is like no other in the NCAA. The main area of the court is stained a light, warm grey, contrasting with the color of the three-point range area, which features a darker, cooler grey.

The impressive use of staining and unique color choice makes CSUN stand out amongst other courts. The key and baseline are painted black, with the “CSUN” in the middle of the court painted a striking red-orange. The darker grey color also outlines the school’s mascot, the matador, surrounding the school’s initials.

Hardwood Court Design #8: The University of Oregon Ducks

The University of Oregon’s basketball team plays on one of the most distinctive hardwood courts ever designed, depicting an evergreen forest.

The hardwood court floor inside the Matthew Knight Arena was produced by the San Jose State University basketball court creators. It took roughly 2,500 hours to complete and features a painted stencil of a rugged forest around the court’s perimeter in three shades of gold to convey depth. The tops of the trees point inward to the school’s logo, which sits on a sand-colored background.

The design gives the illusion of seeing the sky from a clearing in the forest.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Hardwood Basketball Court Designs?

It’s pretty amazing just how intricate and incredible hardwood basketball court designs have become. From various painting and staining methods to unique hardwood floor installation techniques and innovative patterns, teams across the country try to outdo each other with new and creative hardwood court designs. Looking for inspired wood floor installation in your own home? Call the Philadelphia Wood Floor Professionals at Artisan Wood Floors at (215) 515-7355 and ask for Steve!

The eight examples listed here are just a sample of some of the most exciting hardwood basketball court designs out there and certainly not a definitive list. There are many excellent hardwood court designs out there. So, what are some of your favorite designs?