Wilson vs Spalding: Which Is the Best Basketball?

I know we’ve all been there. That crucial moment in our lives when we are standing in the basketball section of our local sporting goods store, ready to pick up a new ball. Before us is a range of basketballs, many from brands we had never heard of. Regular basketballs, blue basketballs, rubber basketballs, composite basketballs, super extra reinforced best to ever exist basketballs. While the decision is easy in principle, let’s be honest, it’s a little harder than it seems. So, which basketball should you choose? That’s what I’m here to help you with today.

First and foremost, in the basketball world, the two biggest brands with the most pedigree are typically Wilson and Spalding. In the NBA’s history, these have been the two balls used by the players during games. Initially, Wilson was the brand of ball used during the NBA’s first 37 years as an organization until the NBA shifted to a Spalding ball in 1983, a brand the NBA used for the next 37 years. For the 2021-22 season, the NBA went back to Wilson, which has remained the official NBA ball for the last 4 years and counting over the course of the regular season through the NBA Finals. Needless to say, these are the two marquee ball brands best built for playing the sport of basketball. So, which one is better?

For a regular-size seven-ball, the official size of NBA balls, Wilson seems to be the better brand. Wilson balls are made with genuine leather, accompanied by a nylon and polyester winding layer and a styrene-butadiene rubber. These materials create a soft feel to the ball, which is very comfortable on one’s hands while still allowing for a good grip and bounce. This soft texture also absorbs sweat, which keeps the basketball dry, another key factor in grip and movement control. While Spalding has created some balls similar to Wilson, those including a leather surface for sweat absorption, a soft feel, and a sleek design, their balls are typically a little rougher and less aesthetically pleasing. On the flip side, this fact makes Spalding balls more durable than Wilson.

When it comes to Wilson, the sleek texture, soft feel, and sweat absorption are all great additions if one is playing on an indoor surface. However, if one is playing outdoors, either on a driveway, on an outdoor court, or in the street, Spalding may be the way to go. The rougher texture makes Spalding balls more durable and capable of dealing with the hazards of outdoor play, such as dirt, grass, puddles, etc. This allows players to still maintain a level of grip and control that a Wilson ball can’t. Besides the indoor-outdoor dynamic, though, price is also a major implication when buying pretty much anything. Due to Wilson being the official brand of the NBA, and with the amount of technology that went into creating that ball, Wilson balls tend to be more expensive than Spalding balls. This isn’t to say that the price isn’t worth it, after all, Wilson has extremely good quality balls that even the NBA players use, but price is still important.

All in all, you can’t go wrong with either Wilson or Spalding as your go-to basketball. If you are planning on playing more indoors with the desire for a sleeker basketball built for a hardcourt, then Wilson is probably your best choice, despite the larger price tag. However, if you tend to play more outside, Spalding is probably a better fit. Their balls are more built for outdoor play, and the cheaper price tag reflects that. So, when you're standing in that aisle looking at all the different types of basketballs, which ball would you choose?  Wilson, Spalding, or perhaps both? The choice is really up to you.