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Lifetime 44” (90023) Portable Basketball System Review
If you want to introduce a healthy physical activity to your kids that they will definitely enjoy, basketball is one of the best choices. In fact, basketball is ranked as one of the most popular sports in the US, second only to football. There are nearly half a million students playing basketball in high school. The sport is popular for a reason. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it will get your blood pumping. And you can enjoy it from your own backyard.
The key is to make sure you choose a high quality basketball hoop that will last for years. Generally speaking, basketball hoop systems are pretty expensive. You want to pick a durable and adjustable hoop so that you can enjoy it for a long time.
Here we will be looking at the Lifetime 44” Polycarbonate Backboard 90023 Portable Basketball System.
About The Product
The Lifetime 90023 Portable Basketball System is an adjustable basketball hoop that is suitable for kids, teens, and even adults. Its height adjustment mechanism lets you adjust it from 7.5 to 10 feet. Adjustable hoop systems are great because kids can enjoy them even as they grow taller.
The 44-inch Fusion backboard is a shatterproof polycarbonate playing surface. Similar to Lifetime’s other basketball hoop offerings, the “Fusion” backboard is a combination of Makrolon polycarbonate and a polyethylene frame. This gives the backboard a professional and sophisticated design, while also making it very durable.
The backboard has fade resistant graphics that come in three different colors: dark blue, grey, and red/white. The 3-piece steel pole is also weather resistant, so it can withstand the elements.
The rim is a standard basketball rim with an all-weather nylon net. The base can be filled with either water or sand.
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Rim Type And Size |
Indoor/Outdoor |
Backboard Type |
Hoop Height Adjustment |
Base System |
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What We Like
The Lifetime44″ Portable Basketball System is remarkably sturdy. Once you have filled the base with either sand or water, it becomes very stable. One reviewer praised the model’s stability, saying it could resist strong winds even though they live in a very windy rural area. It remained standing even through 70 mph gusts during a windstorm.
The Shatterproof Fusion backboard is also noteworthy because of the materials used for it. Not only is it durable and shatterproof, it is also rigid–which means it produces better bank shots and rebounds. It holds up better than a plastic backboard.
Another good quality of this basketball system is that it is simple and easy to assemble. Some users reported that they were able to assemble it within 30 minutes by following the instructions provided. But the average assembly time is about two hours. It is also significantly easier, if you have at least two people working together on the assembly of the hoop.
This basketball system is well-built and durable, so it’s no surprise that it can last for a number of years even with continuous use.
What We Don’t Like
The system is not built for “professional” play. There are other basketball hoops out there that are specifically designed to simulate the real basketball court experience—and the Lifetime 90023 is not one of them.
In fact, shots will sometimes rebound too hard, especially if you try shooting from the 3-point range. The rimis also not designed for dunking, so refrain from doing this, as it might break off. It is rare that portable basketball hoops are suited for dunking, because of this; damage caused by dunking is not covered by warranty.
One common complaint we noted, is that the product is sometimes delivered with missing parts. Sometimes screws, caps, and certain attachments are missing, making it impossible to assemble the hoop. While this is not a flaw of the basketball hoop itself, it occurs often enough that it is worth mentioning. Luckily, Lifetime’s customer service is known for being reliable, so they should be able to supply the missing parts if this happens.
Finally, the height adjustment could be easier: it needs two people to adjust the basketball hoop’s height. You need to lower the goal, unscrew a bolt, adjust the headboard, and then replace the bolt. It’s not as simple as Lifetime’s other basketball hoops that are easy to adjust.
Our Buying Advice
From the way it is designed, the Lifetime 44″ Ploycarbonate Backboard seems like a pretty standard basketball hoop system. The frame, the pole, the net, and the backboard are all reasonably sturdy. It has the signature durability and stability of other Lifetime offerings, except it is not as easy to adjust as their other products.
The performance is pretty good, considering the cost. But we would recommend this only if you want to buy a basketball hoop for your kids or teens. If you want something that is more “professional” then there are better choices out there.
Final Word
Shipping problems aside, the Lifetime 44″ 90023 Portable Basketball System is a good choice for a basketball hoop. It gets the job done, and your kids will definitely enjoy playing using it. It is stable, durable, and will provide countless hours of fun. It is a great gift idea if you want something that will make your kids more active.
Some buyers may feel like they want something “more” out of it. It does not give you the basketball court experience that some people are looking for. If that’s the case, then you should go for a different hoop.
It’s not flashy, but if you just need a simple and durable basketball hoop that you and your kids can play with for years, then the Lifetime 90023 Portable Basketball Hoop is a great pick.
