Last updated: by Thanassis Koukoutselos
If you are buying a basketball, three brands cover most of what you will see on a court: Wilson makes the NBA ball, Spalding made it for almost four decades, and Molten makes the ball for FIBA, the Olympics and most of international basketball. Below them are the shoe brands (Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Under Armour) and a long tail of budget and training brands. This page sums up who makes what and where to start with each one.
I am a recreational player and these are the brands I see at courts and in stores. Where I own a ball, the photo is mine; the product picks are based on the makers’ specs and the Amazon US listings, as explained on my How We Test page.
The top basketball brands at a glance
| Brand | From | Known for | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | USA | Official ball of the NBA (since 2021-22) and the NCAA tournament | Best Wilson balls |
| Spalding | USA | Official NBA ball from 1983 to 2021; EuroLeague ball | Best Spalding balls |
| Molten | Japan | Official ball of FIBA: World Cup and Olympics | Best Molten balls |
| Nike | USA | Elite balls for many NCAA programs and high schools | Best Nike balls |
| Jordan | USA (Nike) | Premium and signature balls under the Jumpman logo | Best Jordan balls |
| Adidas | Germany | Indoor composite balls and player signature models | Best Adidas balls |
| Under Armour | USA | Stephen Curry signature balls | Best Under Armour balls |
| The Rock | USA | Classic budget rubber ball for outdoor courts | The Rock basketball |
| AND1 | USA | Streetball brand; tough rubber outdoor balls | See below |
| Baden, Mikasa, Rawlings, Tachikara, Voit, Franklin, Nerf | Various | School, training, budget and kids’ balls | See below |
The big three: Wilson, Spalding and Molten
Wilson
Wilson took over the NBA ball from Spalding starting with the 2021-22 season, so every NBA game is now played with a Wilson. It is also the official ball of the NCAA tournament. Its best-known indoor ball is the Wilson Evolution, which Wilson calls the #1 indoor game ball in America . For indoor and outdoor use, the Wilson NBA Authentic Indoor/Outdoor carries the NBA logo; for the park, the Wilson NBA DRV Pro has a rubber-based Tackskin cover made for asphalt. More picks in our Wilson guide.
Spalding
Spalding made the official NBA ball from 1983 to 2021 and still supplies the EuroLeague. It is the brand most American players grew up with, and its outdoor balls are cheap and tough. Two that are easy to find: the Spalding Street Outdoor, a rubber ball for asphalt, and the Spalding Zi/O Excel, a composite ball for both indoor and outdoor courts. More in our Spalding guide.
Molten
Molten, a Japanese company founded in 1958, makes the official FIBA ball, used at the Basketball World Cup and the Olympics. It is less common in US stores, but its BG3800 is one of the best-value indoor/outdoor balls on Amazon US. This is my own entry-level Molten BG2010:
Full picks in our Molten guide.
The shoe brands: Nike, Jordan, Adidas and Under Armour
Nike supplies balls to many NCAA programs and high school teams, and its Elite balls are common in US college gyms. Jordan, Nike’s own brand, sells premium and playground balls with the Jumpman logo. Adidas makes solid composite indoor balls; the All-Court ball below is my own, photographed at my local outdoor court. Under Armour is best known for its Stephen Curry signature balls.
Budget, outdoor and training brands
- The Rock: a classic budget rubber ball for outdoor courts. See our The Rock guide.
- AND1: the streetball brand; the AND1 Xcelerate is a tough rubber ball for asphalt.
- Baden: composite balls common in US schools and leagues.
- Mikasa and Tachikara: Japanese makers better known for volleyball, with good-value rubber and composite basketballs.
- Rawlings, Voit and Franklin: budget balls for training, schools and kids.
- Nerf: foam mini balls for playing indoors without breaking anything.
Where to buy
All the big brands are sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart and Amazon, and directly from the makers. Online prices are usually lower, but fakes exist, especially of the expensive leather game balls: buy from the brand’s own store, from Amazon itself or from a seller you know. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Related guides: types of basketballs, official basketballs by league.
FAQ
What is the best basketball brand?
For most players in the US, Wilson or Spalding. Wilson makes the NBA and NCAA tournament balls, Spalding made the NBA ball until 2021, and both sell good balls from about $20 to over $100. If you play FIBA rules or outside the US, Molten is the standard.
What basketball do NBA players use?
The Wilson NBA Official Game Ball, since the 2021-22 season. Before that, the NBA used Spalding for 37 years.
What basketball brand is used in college basketball?
The NCAA tournament uses Wilson. During the regular season each school uses the ball of its sponsor, which is often Nike, Wilson, Adidas or Under Armour.
What basketball brand is used in high schools?
It depends on the school’s sponsor, and Wilson says its Evolution is on more US courts than any other indoor ball. Spalding, Nike, Baden and Under Armour are also common.
Which basketball brand is best for kids?
Any of the big brands sell youth sizes (size 5 for ages 9 to 11, size 6 for ages 12 to 14). Pick by size first: see our basketball size chart. For very young kids, a rubber ball from Spalding or Wilson, or a Nerf foam ball indoors, is enough.
Which brand makes the best outdoor basketball?
For asphalt, a rubber or tough composite ball: the Spalding Street Outdoor, Wilson NBA DRV Pro or AND1 Xcelerate. Keep leather balls indoors.
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