Whether you are an avid basketball player or a rookie to the game, owning a quality basketball is essential. This article shares a list of the best basketballs you can buy.
I have owned many basketballs.
The reason why is because ever since I started playing, I have always bought the wrong type of ball for my purposes.
At first, I would go for the nice leather ones because they looked nice, and I used them outside.
The balls got destroyed because it’s meant for indoors only. Whoops!
Then I would go for the cheapest rubber balls because I thought all of them were the same.
Nope.
The quality of a $5 no-name ball from Walmart is a lot worse than a $15 brand-name ball.
After a few months, the no-name ball lost most of its grip. I also had to pump it every other week.
And the feel of it… you just know the quality is different after a few test dribbles (but this didn’t stop me from being cheap and buying it).
After years of making these mistakes and wasting money, I learned that it’s best to spend more money on a ball that will last (and that will suit your needs).
So, I’ve compiled this list of the best basketballs for specific needs. It covers the best ball from various categories.
So here are the 5 best basketballs you can buy:
(Just to be totally transparent with you, some of the following links are affiliate links. What this means is that if you choose to use the link to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)
Best Indoor Basketball – Wilson Evolution Game Basketball
The Wilson Evolution Basketball is the best of the best.
It’s the most popular indoor basketball as many players like its suppleness, bounce, grip and durability.
I’ve used this ball a few times at the gym and it feels really good. It doesn’t hurt or sting when I receive hard passes and it’s nice to dribble.
However, I don’t own this ball.
But my nephew does and I have used his a bunch of times and I do like it. As I said, it’s soft and has a good bounce, and from what I’ve noticed thus far, is pretty durable (he’s had it for over two years and uses it almost every week indoors and his ball still looks like new).
The one thing I don’t like about it is that it’s stickier than some of the other basketballs I’ve used and it will take time to get used to.
But other than that, it’s quite perfect.
- Where Can You Buy: Buy the Wilson Evolution Game Basketball from Amazon Here
Indoor/Outdoor –Wilson NBA Authentic Series Basketball
The Wilson NBA Authentic Basketball is a great choice for players who want a ball that can be used on multiple types of surfaces (concrete, gym floor, etc.).
This is also the ball that I own.
This ball can withstand the roughness of the hard concrete ground and the skin won’t crack and wear off like an indoor ball would if you used it outside.
I’ve used an indoor ball for outside play before and it just disintegrates after roughly a year. The leather fades and the ball just looks like a fuzzy, hairless hedgehog.
And that’s weird!
Needless to say, the ball got destroyed. Also, don’t use an indoor ball, like the Evolution, outdoors.
Just get an indoor/outdoor ball because this ball is a lot more durable as the skin is harder. So if you constantly bounce it on concrete, it’s more difficult for it to tear and crack.
Of course, it will eventually break. But it’ll take longer.
And (many of you need to hear this) every type of ball will be broken eventually; they’re not permanent.
But other than that, from my experience, this ball has a good bounce and feels good (not as good as the Evolution, but is much better than this one Spalding indoor/outdoor ball I had).
I’ve had this basketball for roughly 2-3 years and I use it almost weekly and it’s still in good condition (not as good as my nephew’s Evolution though).
- Where Can You Buy: Buy the Wilson NBA Authentic Series Basketball from Amazon Here
Outdoor – Get An Indoor/Outdoor Ball
Rather than getting an outdoor basketball, I recommend you get an indoor/outdoor basketball instead.
The main reason is because it’s a better value. You can use it on multiple surfaces and it’ll be tough enough for you to use it outdoors for a long time.
The quality of these balls tends to be better than outdoor rubber balls as well.
Budget – Spalding Varsity Outdoor Basketball
Okay, so this is kind of contradictory to what I said earlier, but if you’re looking for a budget basketball, you’ll have to get a rubber one.
Sadly, there are no budget balls that are not rubber.
The best rubber basketball you can get is the Spalding Varsity Team Basketball.
These basketballs are better than most of the other ones because they come in a lot of designs.
Okay, just joking (but coming in a variety of colours does make it more appealing).
What makes this ball a good choice is that it is very durable and very affordable.
For under $20, this ball will easily last you an entire year of playing 2Ball and American 21 with your friends, unlike the cheap rubber balls from Walmart, which will only last a few months.
However, some of its aesthetics might chip away after a few games and you may have to pump it every other week.
But other than that, this basketball is an awesome budget ball.
- Where Can You Buy: Buy the Spalding NBA Varsity Outdoor Ball from Amazon here
Women’s Basketball – Wilson Authentic Series WNBA Basketball
If you’re looking for a women’s sized basketball, just go with the authentic WNBA balls.
They’re the best of the best and you’ll get your money’s worth.
Additionally, there are a variety of types you can get too (rubber, indoor/outdoor and official game ball).
I recently bought my niece the indoor/outdoor one for her birthday. I’ve used it a couple of times when I played against her and the ball feels nice.
Also -you may or may not be wondering this but- the reason I went with the indoor/outdoor one is because it’s mid-tier.
The quality was much better than the rubber ball and it wasn’t too expensive when compared to the official game ball.
- Where Can You Buy: Buy the Wilson Authentic WNBA Series Basketball from Amazon Here
Buyer’s Guide For Basketballs
Here are some things you need to consider before buying your basketball:
Size
The size that you will choose will depend on a few factors. How old are you? What’s your skill level? What’s your competition level?
So there are four sizes that cater to those factors:
- Size 4: 25.5” – This ball size is meant for little kids, around 5-8 years old. It’s smaller and lighter and will be easier for kids to control and shoot.
- Size 5: 27.5” – This ball is for kids around 9-11 years old.
- Size 6: 28.5 – This is the size of the ball that is used in competitive women’s leagues.
- Size 7: 29.5” – This is the official competition size. This ball size is the one used in the NCAA and the NBA.
Type of Court
So I talked about this a lot in the basketball reviews, but the type of court you play on has to play a factor in the type of ball you get. If you get the wrong one (like I did), it will be a waste of money.
Material
So there are three types of materials: leather, rubber, and synthetic.
- Leather is best for indoor courts and this is the type of material that is used on professional balls. It feels a lot better (softer) than the other materials and is easier to handle.
- Rubber is best for outdoor courts, though they can be played indoors. However, these balls are cheap and meant for beginner (or young) basketball players.
- Synthetic leather is made from composite leather. This material is good for both outdoors and indoors but is much harder than leather-leather balls. These are very durable and have good handling.
Conclusion
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Also, what type of basketball are you planning on buying?