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SF's Panhandle basketball courts reopen in Warriors colors after renovation

SF's Panhandle basketball courts reopen in Warriors colors after renovation

Built World San Francisco, CA local

A $100,000 project resurfaced the Nate Thurmond courts, added new rims and backboards, and repainted them in Warriors colors.

October 24th, 2026: Annual 3x3 tournament

Overview

Updated Oct 25

The Nate Thurmond Panhandle basketball courts reopened Oct. 14 after a $100,000 renovation. Crews milled and leveled the asphalt, recoated it in Warriors blue and yellow, and installed new rims and backboards. A hand-painted 42 marks center court for Thurmond, the Hall of Famer the courts are named for.

Pickup games have run for decades; in the 1970s and '80s, Warriors Billy Reid and Phil Smith played there. A 3x3 tournament started in 1992 and was revived in 2021. Organizer John McCormick says Bay Area players still come out, and the sixth annual tournament was set for Oct. 24.

Why it matters

The renovated courts keep alive one of San Francisco's last streetball institutions, where Saturday runs have united the neighborhood since the 1960s.

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Key Indicators

$100,000
Renovation investment from city, Warriors foundation and Good Tidings
Paid for resurfacing, new rims and backboards at the Nate Thurmond courts.
42
Thurmond's retired jersey number, painted at center court
The Warriors retired No. 42 in honor of the Hall of Fame center.
60
Approximate days the courts were closed for renovation
Closed in August and through September; reopened Oct. 14.
3rd
Refurbishment of the Panhandle courts since 2000
The 2026 resurfacing follows earlier projects in 2000 and 2016.

Voices

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People Involved

Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond
Hall of Fame center; the courts' namesake
Died 2016; No. 42 retired by the Warriors
 John McCormick
John McCormick
Regular at the courts; tournament organizer
Leads Panhandlehoops; organized the 3x3 tournament for six years
DM
Dougie Mitchell
Community figure; founded the 3x3 tournament
Started the tournament in 1992; John McCormick revived it in 2021
RW
Robert Williams
Longtime Panhandle regular ("Park OG")
65; parents still own their home on Oak Street

Organizations Involved

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
City department
Oversaw the 2026 renovation; courts reopened Oct. 14.

City agency that manages the Panhandle and ran the court renovation.
GS
Golden State Community Foundation
Team foundation
Funder of the 2026 renovation

Charitable arm of the Golden State Warriors, listed by KQED as a renovation funder.
Good Tidings Foundation
Good Tidings Foundation
Nonprofit
Funder of the 2026 renovation

Nonprofit that funds youth sports facilities, including the Panhandle courts.
PA
Panhandlehoops
Community group
Runs Saturday pickup games and the annual 3x3 tournament.

Group that organizes Saturday pickup games and the annual 3x3 tournament.

Timeline

1960s–1 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 24th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Annual 3x3 tournament

    Latest Upcoming

    Tournament scheduled at the renovated courts.

  2. Courts reopen with dedication ceremony

    Reopening

    The renovated courts reopened with a ribbon-cutting attended by Marci Thurmond, former Mayor Willie Brown and Warriors alum Kelenna Azubuike. The Golden State Sports Academy hosted a youth clinic afterward.

  3. Courts close for renovation

    Renovation

    Courts close for a $100,000 resurfacing project funded by the city, Warriors foundation and Good Tidings.

  4. Tournament revived

    Community

    John McCormick brings the 3x3 back after Covid and gentrification paused it.

  5. Courts named for Thurmond

    Renovation

    Courts renovated and named for Thurmond by the Warriors foundation and Good Tidings.

  6. Earlier Panhandle court refurbishment

    Renovation

    An earlier refurbishment preceded the 2016 and 2026 projects, according to Hoodline.

  7. First 3x3 tournament

    Community

    Dougie Mitchell and Catherine launch the fundraiser tournament.

  8. Nate Thurmond anchors the Warriors

    Historical

    Thurmond plays for the Warriors and lives in the Panhandle neighborhood.

Scenarios

1

Panhandle Courts Draw Strong Turnout for Oct. 24 Tournament

Likely Resolves by Nov 15, 2026

Discussed by: KQED and tournament organizers; McCormick says 'some of the best hoopers in the city and the Bay come out'

The renovated courts get their first big test at the annual 3x3 tournament on Oct. 24. Panhandlehoops, backed by the Civic Joy Fund and the Warriors, expects the fresh paint and new rims to draw players from across the Bay Area. A healthy field would signal the courts still function as a regional hoops hub.

2

Freshly Painted Courts Show Vandalism or Wear Within a Year

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: No one is predicting failure; this flags the usual risk for any outdoor public court

Outdoor courts absorb weather, graffiti and hard play. The 2026 investment could fade if damage goes unaddressed, repeating the decline that the 2016 renovation was meant to stop. SF Rec & Park's maintenance records would show whether the courts held up.

3

Renovation Expands Youth Programming at the Courts

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Golden State Sports Academy hosted a clinic at the reopening; SF Rec & Park partnership pattern

The reopening included a youth clinic hosted by the Golden State Sports Academy. Past investments paired the Warriors foundation with Good Tidings to fund courts and programs. If the renovation leads to recurring clinics or a youth league, the courts become more than a pickup destination.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

1950s–present

Rucker Park, Harlem (1950s–present)

A public playground court in Harlem became the proving ground for streetball legends. Stars like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played there, and the park earned a national reputation as the cultural heart of New York pickup basketball.

Then

The park drew large crowds and a fierce culture of trash talk and elite play.

Now

Rucker Park became the standard for streetball, inspiring tournaments and films, and remained a community anchor through Harlem's gentrification.

Why this matters now

Panhandle regular Robert Williams explicitly compares the San Francisco courts to Rucker Park at its peak. Both are public outdoor courts where community and elite play fused.

Sources

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KQED SLAM San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department Hoodline SF Funcheap Golden State Warriors San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department