Songs on Basketball: Warm Up Songs and Motivational Tunes for Your Mixtape
It doesn’t matter if you’re warming up for a quick game with friends or trying to practice before you get out on a real court, a good basketball song or quote can make all the difference. Songs about basketball will pump you up, take your performance to the next level, and get you in the right headspace to make some hoops – but finding that perfect song can be a challenge.
Fortunately, there’s no need to spend hours searching through playlists – we’ve got a list of the top ten basketball songs to keep your head in the game.
10. He Got Game – Public Enemy
If you grew up watching basketball movies from the ‘90s and early 2000s, this one probably sounds familiar to you – the song “He Got Game” comes directly from the movie, He Got Game, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington.
The movie follows a father and son duo who give us a new perspective on the recruiting process for college basketball. While this specific song plays during some of the movie’s biggest moments, Public Enemy also did the rest of the movie’s soundtrack – so if you like this bop, you might like the others too.
9. Remember the Name – Fort Minor
Unlike some of the other mentions on this list, “Remember the Name” isn’t geared towards basketball specifically – but it is about staying motivated so that you can achieve greatness. Fort Minor reminds us that every achievement we make comes with fifteen percent concentrated power of will, Five percent pleasure, and fifty percent pain.
Turn this song on, and you’ll be pumped up and ready to hit the court in no time.
8. Sirius – 90’s Bulls Intro Theme
If you never followed the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, this song may not give you goosebumps as it does with some fans – but that doesn’t mean this intro theme isn’t worth turning on.
For a long time, this intro was associated with big wins, and while it might not play in stadiums as often, you can turn it on and still channel some of the luck and success they had during the nineties with this Chicago Bulls theme song.
7. Power – Kanye West
While it’s not written specifically for basketball, Kanye West’s “Power” can put a little extra oomph in your step while you’re on the court. Not only does it have a sick beat, but it’s about proving your haters wrong – whether that’s the opposing team or just anyone who’s ever told you that you weren’t good enough to play.
6. Basketball – Kurtis Blow
For the players that live, eat, and breathe basketball, this one is for you. This classic song by Kurtis Blow came out in 1984, and if you listen to the lyrics closely, you’ll hear Kurtis talk about his love for basketball, but you’ll also hear some references to famous players and iconic games.
If you’ve got a soft spot for basketball history, throw this song on for your next warm-up and let it remind you of some of the sport’s greatest plays.
5. One Shining Moment – David Barrett
Not only is this song one of the most recognizable songs for basketball fans, but it’s one of the most recognized sports songs ever. From David Barrett, there are countless versions of “One Shining Moment” that have been performed by iconic artists like Luther Vandross, Jennifer Hudson, and Teddy Pendergrass.
It’s traditionally played at the end of the NCAA tournament, and if you’re an aspiring student-athlete, there’s no better song to remind you of where you wanna be.
4. Lose Yourself – Eminem
Ever feel like you’re ready to throw in the towel and call it quits? Like Fort Minor and Kanye West, Eminem didn’t write this rap song for basketball, but it’s still applicable for a lot of players. It’s a great hype song, especially if you’re exhausted, tired, and on the verge of giving up.
In the song, Eminem talks about taking your “one shot” and making sure you don’t miss your moment. If you want a song that makes you feel like you own the court, it’s this one.
3. Shooting Hoops – G. Love & Special Sauce
If you’ve ever wanted a song that perfectly captures what it feels like to hang out with friends and casually shoot hoops, then you’ve got to turn up this jam. It doesn’t have the same “oomph” as some of the hype songs on this list do, but if you’re looking for a bit of background music while you make hoops with friends, there’s no better pick.
2. Can’t Stop Me – The Game
Check out the live 2004 NBA version of this song, and it’s sure to give you some nostalgia. Not only do the lyrics focus on basketball, but it’s one of those songs that can really get you in the zone – especially if you’re feeling off your game or like you’re just not in the right spirits to be on the court.
We’d consider this one of the all time best basketball songs for warm ups or basketball runout songs.
1. Sweet Georgia Brown – Brother Bones and His Shadows
If you play it out of context, you may not see the appeal of this song, but the Harlem Globetrotters made this song iconic and therefore it has earned a spot on our listThis vintage bop may not seem like much of a hype song, but when it’s played in an arena or on the court, you’re sure to find yourself moving along to the rhythm.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for basketball songs pump up or basketball songs for warm ups, finding the right song can be challenging – but it’s not impossible. From oldies that’ll bring you back to key moments in NBA or NCAA championships to jams that are designed to pump you up, we’ve got something for everyone on this list. If you want some motivational basketball quotes click over to that post as well. We didn’t include Basketball Jones in our list. Let us know if there are any others that you think should be in our top 10.
Troy Wright
I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.
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