Knockout basketball game in Spain recruits over 700 players for record-breaking match

Hundreds of sports fans gathered in Badalona, Spain this 19 September for the largest game of knockout basketball in history, hosted by the organizer ACB (Asociación Clubes Baloncesto, Spain) responsible for running the country's top professional basketball league.

Taking place before the 2026 Supercopa Endesa semifinal matchup, a record-breaking total of 782 participants of all ages lined up at the court within the Fan Zone located outside the city's Olimpic Stadium. They each took turns tossing shots at the net, surpassing the previous record of 711 people set by Duke University (USA) earlier this year.

Befitting the rules of knockout basketball, once a player misses the basket, they remove themselves from the contest - thereby whittling the massive number of participants down from the hundreds, into the dozens, and eventually down to a singular champion.

In this case, the winner was a local father named Josep Perich, participant number 298, who received a season pass for the basketball season for himself and a person of his choice.

The ACB was inspired to host this giant competition as a way to get fans of all ages excited for the semifinal game later in the day. In addition to the record-setting participants, there was a huge group of attendees gathered outside just to witness the attempt and take part in the festivities, demonstrating to the world the passion that these local fans have for basketball.

"We wanted to give spectators the opportunity to engage directly with and participate in the sport that brings us all together here today!" they said to GWR.