Wilson is currently riding high in the world of basketball, thanks to the NBA dropping Spalding as their official game ball in favor of Wilson back in 2020. What better brand recognition can you get than being the official game ball of the NBA? Baden, who started as a knock-off, generic basketball manufacturer, is rising in the ranks, however. Both of these brands are well-known in the basketball world, and each have their own favorable characteristics.
Of course, this comparison is relatively subjective when you consider that each player has their own preferences. Given this, we have taken as objective of an approach as possible when comparing the two in the following categories: price, popularity, and quality.
History of Baden and Wilson Basketballs
Both companies have achieved a level of success that gives them brand recognition across the globe. While Baden used to be that ball you found in Walmart (an immediate go-to choice for a budget ball), things have changed in a relatively short amount of time.
Baden History
Baden came to be as a result of the general disapproval of basketballs that were being released in the 1970s and early 1980s. However, the company didn’t immediately focus on basketballs. Tennis balls were the Baden sports ball of choice at the time.
Baden Sports founder E.C. Schindler realized that the basketball quality needed significant improvement, and thus pivoted the company’s resources to focus on basketball production.
Their primary focus was only on improving the game for players and, despite a relatively slow start, Baden has truly come into its own, making a name for itself and selling some of the better basketballs on the market today.
Wilson History
Wilson has a much longer history and most of that history was spent in direct or indirect competition with Spalding. Founded in 1913, Wilson was original a beef packing company, but started making basketballs in 1946.
With over 75 years of innovation, only Spalding can truly call themselves a veteran in the space. Wilson has powerful brand recognition and now that they are the official ball of both the NBA and the WNBA, it would seem that the sky is the limit.
Does Baden Make Women’s Basketballs?
Yes, Baden does make women’s basketballs. On their website, there is no separate section for women’s balls; they have a slightly page structure that is shown below
Official 29.5” – This is the circumference of an official men’s basketball that is used in adult leagues and in the NBA
Intermediate 28.5” – This is the size of an official women’s ball that is used in the WNBA, but is somehow considered to be non-official by Baden’s standards (since it doesn’t fall into the official category above)
Youth 27.5” – This is the size of a basketball that leagues normally used when players are about 15 years old or younger
Is Baden More Expensive Than Spalding?
Equipment cost can easily be the primary factor in your decision when making a basketball purchase, especially if you’re a casual player that hasn’t developed any brand loyalty. Below, we’ve taken some of the more popular balls from each brand and have compared them to see which will give you a better bang for your buck. We’ve tried to diversify each ball type below to give you the full spread of the costs you could incur, even if one ball type is the most popular by far for multiple categories (Disclaimer: prices are subject to change).
| Basketball Type | Baden Name | Price | Wilson Name | Price |
| Men’s Outdoor | Contender | $34.99 | NBA DRV Pro | $26.95 |
| Men’s Indoor | Perfection Elite | $69.99 | Wilson Evolution Indoor | $79.99 |
| Women’s Outdoor | Legend | $19.99 | WNBA Heir | $26.95 |
| Women’s Indoor | Perfection Rival | $59.99 | WNBA Official | $99.95 |
| Average Price | — | $53.74 | — | $59.21 |
As we can see above, Baden comes out as the slightly cheaper option overall. Part of this is likely due to the fact that Wilson is the NBA’s and WNBA’s official game ball provider, which allows them to charge a premium (since they know many consumers will want a basketball that’s perceived as the best).
Is Baden More Popular Than Wilson?
For this category, we went ahead and took a look at each brand’s social media profiles to see how many followers they had so we could determine which was more popular.
| Social Media Platform | Baden Following | Wilson Following |
| 13.5K | 67.4K | |
| 1.0K | 9.7K | |
| 5.4K | 25.0K | |
| YouTube | 1.0K | 1.5K |
| Total Following | 20.9K | 103.6 |
From a social media standpoint, Wilson is the more popular by a long shot. However, social media may not be the best comparison because not too many people are looking to keep up with the latest news from either brand. Popularity may be better determined when looking at which brand brings in the most income.
Because both brands are privately owned, most of their financial data available are solely estimates. According to Forbes, “Wilson Sport Goods’ annual revenue has been estimated between $458.6 million and $518.9 million by various data and analytics companies” in 2019.
According to Zippia, Baden Sports’ revenue was around $17.5 million in 2021.
The disparity is likely due to Wilson’s professional partnership mentioned previously. The direct partnership, along with the implied sales because of it, have led to a surge in demand for Wilson basketballs.
Is Baden Better Than Wilson?
Despite their dissimilar histories, both Wilson and Baden are most known for their basketballs and here we are, directly comparing the product that both of these companies produce with an eye for impressing the consumer.
| Category | Baden | Spalding |
| Best Overall | Baden Elite Indoor Game Basketball | Wilson Evolution |
| Best Value | Baden Rubber Basketball | Wilson Wave |
| Best Outdoor | Baden Crossover Flex Composite | Wilson NCAA Outdoor Basketball |
| Best Indoor | Baden Elite Indoor Game Basketball | Wilson NCAA Official Game Basketball |
A couple of the basketballs for both parties make the cut in more than one category, which is a reflection of their versatility and how well-made they are. Both Wilson and Baden have several outstanding basketballs that are more than a match for your style of play and where you prefer to play.
Best Overall Basketball
As good as the Baden Elite Indoor Game Basketball is, there is not much in this world that can hold a candle to the Wilson Evolution Game Ball. The Evolution uses a cushion core carcass, so the ball is soft yet surprisingly durable. It also grips better than the Baden Elite, despite the Elite’s unique symmetrical design.
Best Value
The Wilson Wave is a unique basketball and it comes with a weird texture that takes some getting used to. Because of that wave, the Baden Rubber Basketball, despite how utterly basic this basketball is, takes the cake as the best basketball for the money.
Best Outdoor
Wilson’s outdoor option is called the “Killer Crossover.” It has deep channels for better grip and shooting control with a rubber construction. The Baden Crossover has a slightly better symmetrical design and outdoor grip with the flex composite cover.
Best Indoor
The Wilson NCAA Official Game Basketball is hard pressed by the Baden Elite. There’s no doubt that the Wilson version is much more aesthetically pleasing, which will attract consumers no matter what. However, the Baden Elite’s microfiber cover and weirdly cool panel construction are simply better for control and grip.
Best Indoor/Outdoor
There isn’t much out there that can contend with the near perfection of the Wilson Evolution. The Baden Contender is a really nice ball, with a nice and grippy performance composite and a soft valve system. But that Cushion Core Carcass is simply the best the industry has to offer at the moment, so the Wilson Evolution takes the cake.
In Conclusion: Baden vs. Wilson
When it comes to a head-to-head comparison, Wilson can’t help but win this one by a mile. After all, Wilson is now the official ball of the NBA for a reason. That doesn’t mean that Baden has nothing to offer, but they lack the longevity, brand recognition, and premium product that Wilson has to offer.
It’s important to note that Baden has come a long way in a short amount of time. For either indoor or outdoor use, Baden offers something for everyone. Wilson has time and expertise on their end. When you consider their latest NBA and WNBA acceptance, along with the game-changing Evolution, it’s hard to argue with Wilson as the best.