Reigning champion beats the buzzer

1981 was a big year for basketball—but not necessarily on the court. While the Boston Celtics were beating the Houston Rockets for the NBA Championship, a college basketball coach named Ken Cochran was recovering from heart surgery in Kansas. Left empty-handed, Cochran decided to bring his favorite sport home with him. So using a set of miniature basketball hoops and a spare volleyball net, along with a frame built by a nearby machine shop and backboards cut by his local cabinetmaker, the coach created the Triple Shot—the world’s first-ever arcade basketball game.

Four decades—and millions of points—later, and Cochran’s Pop-A-Shot machines can be found in arcades and man caves across the globe, with the brand’s more modern models sporting digital scoreboards, infrared sensors and multiple game modes. There are pretenders and pale imitations of the original, as well as luxurious, pricier spins on the idea. The latest launch from Reigning Champ, a collaboration with Canadian industrial designer Calen Knauf, falls squarely into that second, pricier hoop.

Led by award-winning Knauf, a year-long process of development and design testing streamlined and refined the concept of a basketball game, banishing plastics in favor of hardwood and tempered glass. The idea was to capture the spirit and feel of a real basketball court and then condense it into an arcade-ready package.

There’s a lot to love about the “Home Court.” We especially like how retro it feels; despite its minimalist design, there’s a departure from modern, cordless trends. The machine also has exposed cables to give it a tactile, more nostalgic flavor — one that contrasts with the sleek, bright colors of the sleek design.

“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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“Home Court” by Reigning Champ

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Each machine is made to order, and the lucky few who manage to get their hands on one will also receive 10 branded white leather basketballs, which are stored in a large storage area on the bottom level of the machine. The rims are cast from powder-coated steel, and for the finishing touch, the nets are hand-knotted from cotton and silk by a Vancouver artisan. If you have the pockets deep enough ($50,000) and a spot in your basement, this is a slam dunk.

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