If you’re shopping around for a basketball, chances are that you’ve already come across both Spalding and Nike options. As these two basketball manufacturers are both very popular, and we’ve done all the necessary research to help you decide which is right for your specific needs. The following article lays out the most pertinent information when it comes to basketballs so that you can decide which one works best for you. The criteria we will be using to determine which one is better will be popularity, price, and quality.
Are Spalding Basketballs More Popular Than Nike?
Although Nike might be the bigger sports brand, Spalding is the more popular basketball. For 37 years, Spalding was the official game ball provider for the NBA, being ousted by Wilson in 2021. However, the company is still the official game ball provider for 16 leagues and associations, 15 national teams, and 29 club teams. We’ve included some notable leagues below:
- Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
- Liga Nacional de Basketball (LNB)
- Euroleague
- Eurocup
- Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB)
- Basketball Bundesliga (BBL)
- Greek Basket League (GBL)
Surprisingly, Nike doesn’t seem to have any partnerships with leagues or teams where they provide the official game ball. Almost all of Nike’s partnerships or sponsorships are with players, teams, etc. to use the company’s other products, such as shoes and apparel.
Another point of comparison for popularity would be sales. Unfortunately, Spalding is a private company, and Nike does not break down their individual basketball sales on their financial statements. However, we’ve included some of the most popular e-commerce sites in the US that sell basketballs and filtered these pages to look at which basketballs are their best sellers. The results are below:
| E-Commerce Platform | # Spalding Best Sellers (%) | # Nike Best Sellers (%) |
| Amazon | 9/50 (18%) | 1/50 (2%) |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods | 8/48 (17%) | 14/48 (29%) |
| Walmart | 20/77 (26%) | 0/77 (0%) |
| Total Weighted Average | 37/175 (21%) | 15/175 (9%) |
Surprisingly, none of the top selling basketballs on Walmart included any balls made by Nike. Spalding and Wilson seemed to be the most predominant on these pages, followed by Molten and Franklin.
This isn’t too much of a surprise though, being that Spalding and Wilson dominate the basketball space, and both have been the official ball of the NBA.
Are Spalding Basketballs More Expensive Than Nike?
Although relatively even, Spalding has the cheaper basketball on average. As with most sporting goods, basketballs come in various styles, editions, and classes. Prices are heavily affected by these factors, with Spalding and Nike being no exception.
Here is a list of some cost metrics to consider when looking at what brand to buy. These prices are taken directly from each company’s website.
Spalding Cost Metrics
- Price Range: $17 – $150
- Median Price: $35
- Mode Price: $20; $30; $40
Nike Cost Metrics
- Price Range: $15 – $150
- Median Price: $35
- Mode Price: $15; $50
As you can see, Spalding and Nike run a tight ship when it comes to competitive pricing. Not only are their price ranges similar, but so are their mode prices (the most common price for their basketballs).
Spalding vs. Nike: Average Basketball Price Comparison
In terms of average prices, we took a look at their top five most popular balls (according to their respective websites) to see which company’s basketballs are easier on the wallet (Disclaimer: prices are subject to change).
| Spalding Basketball Name | Price | Nike Basketball Name | Price |
| Spalding Street Outdoor | $20 | Nike Everyday Playground | $20 |
| Spalding React TF-250 Indoor-Outdoor | $30 | Nike Elite All-Court | $30 |
| Spalding Neverflat Pro Indoor-Outdoor | $40 | Nike Elite Tournament | $50 |
| Spalding Botanics Indoor-Outdoor | $40 | Nike Jordan Hyper Grip | $50 |
| Spalding Precision TF-1000 Indoor | $65 | Nike Elite Championship | $70 |
| Spalding Total Avg. Price | $39 | Nike Total Avg. Price | $44 |
In this comparison, the most popular Nike balls go for a little more than those of Spalding. This could be due to the fact that the Nike brand is associated with top athletes, allowing them to charge a premium.
Because Spalding no longer provides the NBA official game ball, it makes justifying an upcharge on their balls a bit more difficult. This is good for us consumers, though, because their balls are a bit more affordable.
Are Spalding Basketballs Better Than Nike?
When it comes to quality material, Spalding makes better balls than Nike. One of the biggest factors when determining if a ball is high quality is the material used to make the cover. There are three main types of material that company’s use to make basketball covers: rubber, composite leather, and genuine leather. Below, we’ve broken down each one and what its advantages are when used for basketball.
- Rubber – not only is it the most inexpensive of the three materials, but it also holds up the best when being used on an outdoor court. Additionally, they can be used on an indoor court. The only downside is that they tend to lose their shape a bit quicker than basketballs made from leather (when used on their intended courts), and the rubber material can be abrasive to your hands after thorough use.
- Composite Leather – a combination between leather and some alternative material (usually rubber or polyurethane), they are normally made to withstand both indoor and outdoor courts. Their grip tends to last longer than that of a rubber basketball, but they fall short of genuine leather when comparing grip and softness.
- Genuine Leather – although the most expensive material, leather is the most preferred material amongst the professional players. The benefits of having a leather basketball are that it is very soft on the hands and is the easiest to grip. Unfortunately, they should only be used on an indoor court because outdoor courts will weather them quickly.
When comparing the top five most popular balls between Spalding and Nike above, the quality comparison results to an almost equal score. Four of the five balls for both companies are made of composite leather, with each having one ball made of rubber entirely.
But if we put the most popular balls aside and focus on their most expensive ball, this might be where we can make more of a distinction. Both balls below are selling at $150 on the companies’ respective websites.
Spalding’s TF Model M Official Leather Indoor Game basketball is made up of all premium leather, which is exactly what you want when playing at the highest level. Unfortunately, Nike’s Jordan Premium ball is made of 83% rubber, making it a lower-quality ball for that high of a price point.
Again, we can surmise that Nike is leveraging its brand reputation to charge a premium; Jordan is an extremely popular and well-respected shoe brand, but that does not mean its basketballs are of the same quality.
In Conclusion: Spalding vs. Nike Basketball
At the end of the day, both brands are going to provide you with a decent basketball that will likely meet your needs. However, if you really want to get more bang for your buck, Spalding is probably the way to go.
In terms of quality, either brand is a safe bet unless you want a ball that is genuine leather. At that point, Spalding or Wilson are the brands you should focus on since they have experience making professional-level basketballs.