The legendary West Fourth basketball courts, aka "The Cage" | Where Locals Go

Manhattan’s West Fourth Street basketball courts are where former NBA stars like Stephon Marbury, Rod Strickland and Jayson Williams played. Even if you don’t see these players here now, you’ll still witness some of the best street ball in the city on these courts, known as the Cage. It earned its nickname because it’s fenced in on all sides. “If you can’t master this court, you really can’t play nowhere else,” local high school coach Gregory Hillman told The Washington Post on a steamy July night. No matter what time of day you pass the Cage, you can easily spend hours mesmerized by the energy of local players hustling during a game of pickup basketball. And if you ever have the urge to prove your skills, in the words of one longtime tournament organizer, just put your name up on the list and shout, “I got next!” The courts are open year-round, but the best games are seen between May and August when the West Fourth tournament takes place. Read more: https://wapo.st/32apzTG. Subscribe to The Washington Post on YouTube: https://wapo.st/2QOdcqK By The Way, we have way more travel content: Instagram:   / bytheway   Sign up for our newsletter: https://wapo.st/bytheway More city guides and tips: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel