How to Draw a Basketball Player (Easy Step by Step)
This basketball player is built from friendly, simple shapes: a big oval head, a boxy jersey, and a round ball held up high on a stick. The star on the shirt and the headband make the player look ready for the big game. It is a great drawing for kids who like sports and want to practice circles and ovals.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a basketball player step by step
How to Draw a Basketball Player · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The big round head
Start with a big oval for the head, a little wider than it is tall. Make the bottom come to a soft point at the chin.
Step 3: The headband
Draw two curved lines across the head, one above the other, like a wide ribbon. Make them bend a little like a smile and end at the sides of the head.
Step 4: The happy face
Add two small round dots for eyes, just below the headband. Then draw a little curved smile in the middle, under the eyes.
Step 5: Shirt and shorts
Under the head, draw a tall box for the jersey with sides that go straight down. Draw a line across the middle, then make the shorts below it a little wider, with a small arch between the legs. Finish each leg with a short flat foot.
Step 6: The star
Draw a small star in the middle of the jersey. Make it chunky, with five rounded points.
Step 7: Both arms
On one side, draw a long skinny oval arm that starts at the shoulder and reaches up and out. On the other side, draw a shorter bent arm hanging down with a small circle hand at the bottom.
Step 8: Big sneakers
At the bottom of each leg, draw a wide rounded shoe, like a bean or a half oval. Make the two shoes match and leave a small gap between them.
Step 9: The ball on a stick
At the tip of the raised arm, draw a small circle for the hand. Draw a short stick going up from it, then a round ball on top. Draw one line straight down and one straight across the ball, then add a curve on each side to make the basketball lines.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your basketball player? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a baseball player or how to draw a football player next.
Tips for drawing a basketball player
- Sketch the head as a light oval first. It is the biggest shape, and everything else is placed around it, so a smooth oval makes the rest easier.
- The ball is the trickiest part. Draw the circle first, then the straight cross lines, and add the two curved side lines last so they match.
- Draw the raised arm as a long thin oval that starts at the shoulder and tilts up and out. In the last step, put the little hand circle at its tip and the stick right above it.
Free basketball player coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this basketball player coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your basketball player drawing
Try an orange ball with black lines, a bright team color for the jersey and headband, and a gold star. For a creative twist, give the player a team name and pick team colors for the shorts and shoes.
Basketball player fun fact for kids
A basketball hoop is 10 feet high, and that has been the standard height since the game was invented in 1891 by James Naismith. The first games used peach baskets as hoops.
Questions about drawing a basketball player
What shapes do I need to draw a basketball player?
You need ovals for the head, arms and shoes, small circles for the hands and ball, and a box for the jersey. A star and a few curved lines finish it off.
How do I draw a basketball so it looks real?
Draw a circle, then one straight line down and one across through the middle. Add a curved line on each side that bends toward the center, and the ball will look right.
How do I make my basketball player look more fun?
Give the player a big smile and a bright headband. You can also color the star gold and the shoes in team colors.
