Best basketball

There's a lot that goes into choosing the right basketball. Besides age and gender, the size and material of the ball will vary depending on where you plan to play. Rubber basketballs are optimized for the great outdoors, while leather ones are perfect for indoor play. Whether you plan to shoot hoops with friends or showcase taking your skills against opponents in a tournament, we'll help you find the best basketball.

Oh, you don't have a basketball goal at home to slam dunk every time you shoot hoops? Well, fret not! The Spalding street basketball ball is perfect for quick outdoor play on the go. Made for use on all outdoor surfaces, its smoothbore seamless rubber cover resists water and offers a hustle-like grip even when wet so you can ball out as much as you want. 

Popularly known as the EVO game series, this basketball has a long heritage of performance on the indoor court, and it's designed to meet the rigors of all play levels. A soft but firm cushion core carcass makes it extra responsive to fast breaks and dribble drives. The microfiber composite leather cover provides the best grip, durability, and feel for consistent performance. 

Nothing beats the convenience of having a basketball built for the very best play both indoors and out. The Zi/O is constructed using the signature Spalding tournament composite leather cover, which is incredibly durable and easy to grip, while the foam backing provides a soft feel on your hands. On an indoor court, this ball will float as you practice your layups, and it won’t slide when you take those crossover dribbles to the driveway hoop outdoors.

If you're looking for something that has a dependable build with lots of uses, look no further than this Champion Sports basketball. It's made with a rubber composite cover that enhances grip, a nylon-wound two-ply butyl bladder for optimal air retention, and polyester windings that increase bounce-back performance both indoors and out. A variety of sizes are available so everyone from the beginner to a professional athlete can have a ball.

This ball is made with a high-grade rubber cover that provides optimal grip while taking the abuse you dish out. The deep channel construction also improves grip, making dribbling easier and shooting more accurate. The Chaos combo package includes a 12-inch pump to take the guesswork out of inflating your basketball.

The bottom line

Regardless of your play level, a good basketball can make or break the game.  And as is often the case, there is no one best basketball. Since different courts require different designs, it's recommended you pick a ball based on where you play the most. 

The Spalding Street outdoor basketball tops the chart. With enhanced durability and performance, it is constructed for the rigors of outdoor play. Even better,  the newly designed Spalding logo has been placed in strategic positions to strengthen weak spots from the previous versions.

For indoor play, you have the recreational WILSON's Evolution game basketball, developed from the high-end professional Evo line. It features a microfiber composite leather cover that offers a cushioned feel and a wonderful grip. It doesn't matter if your game is tight handles or tense drives, you'll enjoy playing with it.

Why trust us?

At Gardening Etc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.