A basketball net isn’t only about that swish sound, though. It’s also a useful way to slow and control the ball’s trajectory after a shot, so you’re not chasing it all over the court.

Fiddling with the hoop, over the course of a few minutes, Kaplan installed a brand new, bright gold net. But nobody had asked him to install it — certainly not the Department of Parks & Recreation.

First responders fix basketball court by installing nets Some of Medford's finest installed nets on a basketball court that had no nets on their rims.

The team is shooting for hundreds of brand-new nets to install at 180 basketball courts in Philadelphia. After tallying up the math, they say this will cost between $8,000 and $10,000.

“It is just not good,” Anibal Amador says of bare rims at New York City’s playgrounds. As a result, the self-described “Net Changer” buys and hangs nets at his local courts.

Outdoor basketball hoopsInstalling a basketball hoop provides a fun way for kids and adults to exercise. It’s important to find the right design to ensure it’s easy to install and safe to use.