Cardboard Basketball. NBA Basketball Board Game – DIY
Are you a fan of basketball and looking for a fun project to tackle? Why not create your own NBA basketball tabletop game out of cardboard! This simple and affordable project is a great way to bring the excitement of the game into your home, and it’s a perfect activity for kids and adults alike.
Please scroll down for step-by-step tutorial of how to make Cardboard Basketball game.
Creating a DIY cardboard NBA basketball tabletop game is not only a fun activity, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to develop valuable skills like problem-solving and teamwork. It’s a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and can even serve as a stress-reliever after a long day.
Moreover, building a DIY cardboard NBA basketball tabletop game is a great way to get your family and friends involved. You can work together to create the game, and once it’s finished, you can enjoy playing against each other and even hosting tournaments.
Our step-by-step tutorial takes you through each stage of the process, from designing and cutting the cardboard to assembling and decorating the game. So, let’s get started!
HERE IS THE TUTORIAL:
To make this board game, you will need the following materials:
- Porous two-layer cardboard
- Glue gun
- Ping pong balls
- Cardboard cups
- Rubber band
- Pencil
- Marker
- Utility knife
- Ice cream stick
- Wooden sticks
- Plastic bottle cap
STEP 1. Take a 30 by 55-centimeter sheet of porous two-layer cardboard.
This will be the base of the game’s body
Draw dotted lines on the cardboard sheet with a marker, as shown in the picture below
Cut cardboard strips that are 5 centimeters high
The cardboard strips should be the same length as the previously drawn dotted lines
Take the glue gun and glue the cardboard strips along the dotted lines on the base of the game’s body
Now let’s make the side parts of the game’s body
For this, you will need two pieces of cardboard
The required shape and size are shown in the picture below
The dotted lines show how to glue the side parts to the base of the body
Glue the side parts to the base of the body using the glue gun
Note that as a result of gluing, the base of the body should be at an angle to the surface
This is necessary so that the balls roll down during the game
STEP 2. Let’s move on to making the balls for the game.
Take ping pong balls and draw them to look like basketballs
You can make as many balls as you want
You can try throwing the balls on a basketball field and see how they roll down
If all the balls roll down, then you did everything right!
STEP 3. Now you need to make the back wall for the game’s body.
Take a sheet of cardboard that is 50 by 30 centimeters
You can make the top of the back wall rounded to give it an aesthetic look
For convenience in performing the next steps, do not glue the back part to the body yet
In the future, glue it to the base and side parts of the body, as shown in the picture below
Now cut a piece of cardboard in the shape of a rectangle 30 by 10 centimeters
This will be the front part of the body
Glue it as shown in the picture below
After gluing the front part, make a square hole in it that is 5 by 5 centimeters
Through this hole, the balls will return to you after a throw
Now let’s glue the receiver, into which the balls will roll down
Glue it at an angle, as shown in the picture below
It will look like this
STEP 4. In this step, let’s make a platform for the catapult.
Prepare a piece of cardboard of the following shape and size
Mark the place for attaching the catapult
Approximately here
Cut off a small piece of the pencil
Glue it in the previously marked place
STEP 5. Let’s make the catapult.
Cut out a 10 cm diameter circle with a taper end from cardboard
Make a hole in the center of the circle using a pencil
Cut out 4 squares, each measuring 3 by 3 centimeters
Make a hole in the specified location in each square as shown in the picture below
Glue these squares together
The holes should match
Cut out 4 more identical squares and glue them together as well
Now you need to glue the squares onto the circle as shown in the picture below
Measure the top of the squares and cut out 2 pieces of cardboard of the required size
Glue them over the squares
STEP 6. Prepare 3 wooden sticks, each 3 centimeters long.
Insert one stick into the holes through both squares
Insert the second stick into the cavity between the layers of cardboard in one of the squares
The location is indicated in the picture below
Insert the third stick in the same location in the second square
Apply glue using a glue gun to the stick that connects the two squares
Take an ice cream stick and glue it
Now the stick can move
It will be a catapult
Apply glue to the ice cream stick in the specified location
Glue the plastic bottle cap where the glue is applied
Now, we need a rubber band
Put it on the sticks inserted into the squares
Lower the free end of the ice cream stick under the rubber band
The catapult is ready
STEP 7. Now it is time to attach the catapult to the platform prepared earlier.
The little piece of pencil (which was glued to the platform) should match the hole in the center of the catapult. No need to glue it because the catapult needs to rotate around the pencil.
Apply glue using a glue gun at the specified location in the picture below
Cut a small piece of glue stick
Glue it onto the catapult
This will be a handle that you can use to rotate the catapult
Attach the platform with the catapult to the prepared game body
Make a hole in the specified location on the catapult platform
Cut out a circle with a hole in the center
Apply glue to the hole
Insert a wooden stick into it
Cut a small piece of glue stick
Glue it on top of the stick
Insert the free end of the stick into the previously prepared hole
This stick, when inserted into the hole, will stop the balls from rolling out of the game body. When removed, the balls will roll out to the container outside the game body.
STEP 8. Now we need cardboard cups.
Using a pencil or marker, mark the future holes in the basket
Cut out the holes and bottom with a utility knife
Make 5 more baskets the same way
Cut out a piece of cardboard 7 by 10 centimeters.
Stick a small white rectangle on it
Apply glue to the cardboard in the specified location
Carefully attach the basket
Repeat this step with the remaining baskets
STEP 9. Attach 3 baskets to the back wall of the body using glue.
Attach the remaining 3 baskets to the base of the body
Cut out 3 cardboard pieces of the specified shape and 16 CM height – these will be the stands for the remaining baskets.
Glue them to the back of the shield with the basket
Apply glue to the body base
Glue the remaining 3 baskets
The game is almost ready, let’s decorate it
Add beautiful drawings
Let’s start the game!
I Love This Game!
In conclusion, this project is both affordable and eco-friendly. Cardboard is a readily available and recyclable material, making it an excellent choice for DIY projects. By choosing to make your own tabletop game instead of buying a pre-made one, you’re not only saving money but also reducing your carbon footprint.
Creating a DIY NBA basketball tabletop game out of cardboard is a fantastic way to combine your love of basketball with a fun and engaging project. With a little time and effort, you can build a game that you and your loved ones will enjoy for years to come.
So why not give it a try and see where your imagination takes you!
