Basketball Stars

Basketball Stars Unblocked is one-on-one street basketball played like a fighting game. There is no team to pass to and nowhere to hide: every possession is a direct read on the one player in front of you, and the first to blink gives up the bucket.

What Is Basketball Stars?

Made by Madpuffers, Basketball Stars strips basketball down to a duel between two caricatured stars. Matches are short, scoring is constant, and the whole game hinges on three moves - the shot, the pump fake and the block. Land a fake and you get a free look at the hoop; mistime a block and you are on the floor watching the ball drop.

A special meter builds as you score and defend, and the shot it pays for is the great equaliser in a close game. Characters differ in speed, shooting and dunking, so picking the one that suits how you play matters more than picking the one with the most famous silhouette.

How to Play Basketball Stars

Controls

• Player 1 - A / D move, W jump, S pump fake or block, B shoot and steal, V special shot
• Player 2 - arrow keys to move and jump, Down arrow to pump or block, L to shoot and steal, K for the special
• Both sets are active at once, so a friend can sit down and play without changing a setting.

Modes

• Quick match - a single game against the CPU, and the fastest way to learn a character.
• 2 player - two people, one keyboard, no lobby and no room code.
• Tournament - a knockout bracket where one loss ends the whole run.
• Training - practise shots and moves with nobody defending.

Tips to Win More Duels

• Pump fake first, shoot second. A defender in the air cannot contest anything - baiting the jump is the cheapest bucket in the game.
• Do not jump on the first move. Blocking early is how good players get scored on; wait until your opponent has committed to the shot.
• Spend the special when you are covered. It is wasted on an open shot you were going to make anyway - save it for a contested or long attempt.
• Steal on the dribble. Reaching in while the ball is going up leaves you grounded and out of position for the rebound.
• Learn one character properly. Speed, shooting and dunking really differ between them, and knowing exactly how high yours jumps is worth more than switching every match.

Why Play Basketball Stars on Unblocked Games 88?

• Runs straight in the browser - no download, no install, no plugin.
• Works on a school Chromebook or an office laptop where most game sites are filtered.
• Free to play, with no account and no sign-up.
• One-click fullscreen, plus like, comment and a heart button to save the game to your favourites.

More Basketball Games

Basketball Legends is the sister game from the same studio, with two-on-two matches and a bigger roster, while Basketball.io throws you into a free-for-all against a lobby of other players instead of a single rival.

Basketball Stars FAQ

Is Basketball Stars free to play?

Yes. The game runs free in your browser on this page - nothing to buy, download or sign up for.

Can I play Basketball Stars at school or on a Chromebook?

Basketball Stars unblocked is hosted here rather than on a separate games portal, so it usually loads on school and work networks and runs in Chrome on a Chromebook. Check your own school or company rules first.

What are the controls for two players?

Player 1 uses A and D to move, W to jump, S to pump or block, B to shoot and steal and V for the special. Player 2 uses the arrow keys, with L to shoot and steal and K for the special.

Can I play against a friend?

Yes, in 2 player mode on the same keyboard. There is no online multiplayer, so both players share one screen and one keyboard.

How does the special shot work?

The meter fills as you score and defend. The special is far harder to stop than a normal shot, so it is best used when your opponent has you covered rather than on an easy look.

Does Basketball Stars work on mobile?

It plays best on a laptop or desktop, since the two-player layout is built around a shared keyboard and the timing on fakes and blocks is tight.