The 6 Best Indoor Basketballs

When it comes to recommending the best indoor basketballs, I have to hand the top spot to Wilson Evolution. This classic ball checks all the boxes for indoor play, whether you’re a high school gym teacher or professional coach. It’s a consistent favorite that you’ve likely encountered if you’ve ever set foot on an indoor court.

The Wilson Evolution combines top-notch design with durable, long-lasting material, which explains why it bounces in both NCAA tournaments and college gyms worldwide. You can get five to ten years out of this hardy ball, which gets even more comfortable to grip once it’s broken in.

A Wilson ball comes with sweat-wicking technology that directs moisture away from your hand every time you touch the surface. Even if your palms drip during an intense match, the ball’s deep channels collect and absorb your sweat, so the cover stays tacky.

The microfiber composite cover gives it a soft, buttery feel. You won’t lose your grip on a Wilson because the pebbled texture includes thousands of micro-touch points that help you hang on. Even the ball’s channels include pebbling for maximum hold.

Pros:
• Durable microfiber composite cover
• Moisture-wicking channels
• Grippy pebbling
• Consistent bounce

Cons:
• No natural leather feel
• Sweat-wicking can make the ball sticky

Next up, I’ve found the Baden Elite to be one of the best affordable indoor basketballs. You’ll find it priced similarly to a Wilson, but with a noticeably different feel. Touching and gripping the composite leather surface feels firmer, with less buttery-soft give.

The Baden Elite still wicks away plenty of moisture during play. It features a recessed stealth soft valve system that keeps the surface area extra-grippy during a heated match. Synthetic balls can’t absorb as much moisture as natural leather, so you’ll need a smart design system like this to keep a microfiber ball in your sweaty hands.

The channels aren’t as deep as other balls, meaning you’ll get a more consistent bounce no matter where the ball connects to the court. Many players prefer a crisper, more rigid texture when handling the ball, and the Baden Elite manages to avoid the sticky feeling that often comes with moisture-wicking surfaces.

This indoor basketball is also extremely durable, with a synthetic leather cover that lasts for years with proper care. For a good reason, it’s built a solid reputation in gyms around the world.

Pros:
• Excellent ball control
• Sharp bounce
• Recessed stealth soft valve system
• Dry, tacky feel

Cons:
• Less cushion on grip
• Artificial leather cover

If you’ve never played with a real leather ball, let the Spalding NBA Official Game Ball be your introduction. The leather feels like a whole different beast than rubber or microfiber, but some players find they vastly prefer it to other materials.

I include this option in my top picks because NBA players have loved it for decades. Top players were devastated when the NBA tried to replace the ball with a synthetic alternative in 2007, insisting that they wouldn’t play without their favorite leather Spalding.

A genuine leather cover does a much better job of wicking away sweat than any synthetic option. No matter how sweaty your hands, the material absorbs moisture and stays grippy with a crisp bounce.

Leather balls are rare to come by these days, and it may take some time to get used to the feel of a natural surface. You should expect a more extended break-in period before your ball feels comfortable and grippy.

Once you’ve bounced it around the court a few times, you’ll find the ball starts to feel better every time you play. Wine, cheese, and Spalding Official Game balls: these things just get better with age!

Pros:
• Better moisture-wicking than microfiber
• Improved feel with longer use
• Soft grip

Cons:
• Long break-in period
• Higher cost for natural material

I first heard of the Molten X-series because it’s the official ball of FIBA, basketball’s global competition that includes the Olympics. You may not have encountered it much in the US, but this expertly crafted indoor ball is worth a shot (no pun intended!)

One unique feature of the Molten X-Series is its extra paneling. You’ll see more channels around the ball, which are narrower and shallower than other products on this list.

The extra groove lines will take some getting used to, but they serve as excellent reminders of your hand placement on the ball.

If you’re looking for a practice ball for indoor play, the Molten X-series is an excellent option. With the high-contrast marks and paneling, it’s easy to see how much spin you’re getting on a shot. Understanding the risk of many channels throwing off the occasional bounce, you’ll practice control and have a better awareness of how your ball rotates during play.

Take a closer look at the cover, and you’ll notice the pebbling on the X-Series resembles dragon scales rather than a scattered design. The synthetic surface has a sticky, spongy feel that will take some getting used to during those early games.

Pros:
• Easy to watch rotation
• Narrow, shallow channels
• Good for practicing control

Cons:
• Sticky texture
• Inconsistent bounce

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the best affordable indoor basketballs I’ve come across: the Wilson NCAA Replica. If you take a look at the prices of other options in this roundup, you’ll notice that some of the top indoor balls are relatively expensive for something you’ll never get to use outside the gym.

The Wilson NCAA Replica is my top recommendation for anyone who wants to get that high-quality shooting experience without breaking the bank. It’s Wilson’s knock-off of their Game Ball, crafted of similar composite leather, so you’ll get a comparable soft feel and durable build.

The NCAA Replica ball is an excellent option for training, playing with children, or even sneaking an occasional outside game (don’t tell Wilson!) without worrying about ruining a pricier model. It’s technically an indoor-outdoor basketball, so you don’t have to worry about cracking the material when you bounce it on the driveway.

It may not be quite as plushy to the touch as the original Wilson ball, but the NCAA Replica is still leaps and bounds ahead of the quality of play you’ll get from balls with a rubber cover. Therefore, this budget-friendly option takes a solid spot on my list.

Pros:
• Composite leather cover
• Budget-friendly
• Indoor and outdoor use
• Durable

Cons:
• Not as soft as a Game Ball

The Spalding TF-1000 takes the last spot on my roundup of the best indoor basketballs. This synthetic ball holds a nostalgic place in the heart of basketball enthusiasts around the world. It used to be one of the most common balls on and off professional courts, praised for its buttery feel, tactile grip, and steady bounce.

Twenty years ago, I might have said the TF-1000 was the best basketball money can buy. Unfortunately, newer versions of the Spalding like the Legacy and Classic feature a noticeably different material than I remember from back in the good old days.

The re-released TF-1000 Classic comes out of the package with a glossy finish that feels far too sticky for comfortable play. After you wear it in over several games, the grippy coating fades, and you’re stuck with the opposite problem: a slippery ball that doesn’t wick away sweat.

Overall, Spalding is still an excellent brand that designs symmetrical, durable balls with beautiful pebbling. I’ve kept the TF-1000 on the list because it stays in firm shape after years of play, with a broad channel design and nylon windings that hold the spherical form true.

Pros:
• ZK microfiber cover
• Wide, easy-grip channels
• Durable

Cons:
• Inconsistent surface feel
• Tacky grip
• Slippery with sweat