Urchin-like NiCo2O4/stereotaxically constructed graphene (t-SCG) microspheres are synthesized via a hydrothermal method. NiCo2O4/t-SCG microspheres display hierarchical porous structures with large specific surface area (138.81 m(2) g(-1)). When evaluated as anode materials for Li-ion battery, NiCo2O4/t-SCG electrode shows a high reversible specific discharge capacity of 498.5 mA h g(-1) even in the 200th cycle at a current density of 0.5 A g(-1). The performance of the sample as anode materials for Na-ion battery is also evaluated. NiCo2O4/t-SCG electrode can deliver a high initial specific discharge capacity of 818.9 mA h g(-1), stable cycling with more than 314 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1) in the 50th cyde. Compared with bare NiCo(2)O(4 )microspheres, NiCo2O4/t-SCG microspheres show much higher capacities and stability for both Li- and Na-ion battery, attributed that t-SCG acts as an efficient 3D conductive network to improve electronic conductivity. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.