Top 10 Outdoor Basketballs For 2021

Photo by phoenix021 / Adobe Stock
Updated December 15, 2020

Enjoying basketball should be possible on virtually any surface. However, a good outdoor basketball must be durable enough to withstand many hours of playing on rugged surfaces such as concrete. There’s nothing worse than picking the wrong ball, so check out our reviews of the best outdoor basketballs for 2020.  

Top Outdoor Basketballs

Wilson Killer Crossover basketball

This popular outdoor basketball by Wilson comes in three sizes that can adapt to both youth and adult players. It comes in many different colors and it's an ideal basketball for a recreational player looking to enjoy an outdoor session. Its grip and durability are top-level and it's hard to find any flaws for the Wilson Killer Crossover basketball.

What We Love About It:

  • Three different sizes and six colors to choose from
  • Top-notch grip and durability
  • Affordable price

Spalding NBA Street Outdoor basketball

Spalding is probably the leader in outdoor basketballs and this NBA Street basketball proves that. If you need a durable basketball to withstand virtually any terrain for plenty of playing hours, look no further. Available in three sizes and two colors, it's almost a no brainer. It features a Performance Two-Tone cover and deep channel design for both durability and grip.

What We Love About It:

  • Affordable for casual players
  • Three sizes to choose from
  • Tough enough to survive any terrain with the Two-Tone cover

Spalding NBA Street Phantom

For rubber fans, Spalding NBA Street Phantom features the Soft Grip Technology combined with a sponge rubber design. It's primarily designed for outdoor play and its tough construction makes sure that the ball is a great investment that is meant to last. This basketball's outer surface is made together with the moulding to provide a better grip. With its black design in many colors, we have to say it looks awesome! Be aware that it’s only available in the official NBA size. One of the coolest outdoor basketballs we found. 

What We Love About It:

  • Awesome black design
  • Perfect for rubber basketball lovers
  • Extremely durable

Under Armour Steph Curry Outdoor

Under Armour combined with one of the best players in the NBA equals a ball that’s priced on the higher side. That is the case with this basketball but it’s worth it, considering the quality and design. A very durable rubber is used with a unique texture for maximal grip. It can be used both indoor and outdoor but its construction makes it perfect for outdoor casual players. Designed in Golden State Warriors colors, it’s perfect for any Steph Curry fan. This is just one of many Steph Curry products we've reviewed at BuySideSports. 

What We Love About It:

  • A quality outdoor basketball that works well indoor as well
  • Features a unique rubber texture
  • Perfect choice for Steph Curry fans

Spalding Kids Rookie Gear

Even though other items on our list featured youth-sized basketballs, this Spalding ball is also 15% lighter to help develop technique in young ballers. With a higher price when compared to other Spalding models, this uniquely colored masterpiece will help young players step up their game. The composite cover makes sure you can use it both indoor and outdoor. This is one of the best outdoor basketballs for younger players. 

What We Love About It:

  • 15% lighter to help develop ball handling and shooting technique
  • Unique design
  • Great for both indoor and outdoor use

GlowCity Light Up Basketball

The biggest problem when you want to play basketball at night is that you can hardly spot the ball, even with some lighting around the court. The GlowCity Light Up basketball manages to resolve this problem quite easily with two bright LEDs inside the ball that are impact-activated. The LEDs turn off automatically when not in use. This feature does not sacrifice durability as you can still enjoy many days and nights with this ball. Batteries for the LEDs can be replaced. Definitely one of the most unique outdoor basketballs! 

What We Love About It:

  • Play night sessions with impact-activated built-in LEDs
  • LEDs turn off automatically when not in use
  • Solid durability

Adidas All-Court Basketball

If you’re looking for the perfect all-around basketball you can use for both outdoor and indoor play, look no further than the adidas All-Court basketball. With a tough leather construction, it manages to excel on both courts without compromising performance. It’s both tough and smooth, with a superb grip and moisture management. Very good price for the quality, one of the best outdoor basketballs we've come across.  

What We Love About It:

  • Can be used on virtually any surface
  • Performs equally well on both surfaces
  • The leather used is both tough and smooth at the same time

Spalding NBA Zi/O Indoor-Outdoor 29.5" Basketball

Wherever we go, we come back to Spalding and their awesome outdoor basketballs! This time, we feature a perfect NBA basketball replica in terms of ball size and weight. It manages to excel in both indoor and outdoor play due to its foam-backed texture. It feels great to play with and manages to prove that Spalding is indeed the leader in this market.

What We Love About It:

  • Perfect for both indoor and outdoor play
  • Official NBA size and weight

MacGregor Multicolor Basketball

This basketball can be considered a budget choice for players but it doesn’t mean the ball is not good quality. As its name suggests, it’s available in multiple colors and it can be used both indoor and outdoor due to its rubber construction. The ball is designed for the casual player who needs a solid outdoor basketball that will last for a long time.

What We Love About It:

  • A great budget choice
  • Available in many different colors
  • Both indoor and outdoor use

Summary - BuySideSports Top 3 Picks

We hope you liked our top 10 list of the best outdoor basketballs available in 2020. This section crowns the best ball from the list when considering both the overall ball quality and its price. Check out our picks below:

Outdoor Basketball Buying Guide

Here is the list of certain characteristics you should pay attention to when purchasing an outdoor basketball:

  • Durability – An outdoor basketball is only good if it can last many hours of play on a concrete surface. If it can’t it’s questionable to even call it an outdoor basketball and should be avoided.
  • Grip – Many outdoor basketballs get flattened out in no time, making ball handling next to impossible. This has to do with rubber quality and is something to watch for. We were careful to ensure every ball on our list has a strong grip.
  • Indoor compatibility – If you want a ball that can be used indoor and outdoor, make sure it says this in the product description. Otherwise, you may find an outdoor-only ball just doesn’t work as well indoors. It will bounce too high and may not perform well on a gym floor. But keep in mind that basketballs that work both indoor and outdoor usually have a composite outer layer and will be higher in price.
  • Size – Owning an official sized basketball is cool but you should still consider a smaller option, especially if you’re buying it for a younger player. The basketball size will directly affect your grip, shooting, and ball handling so check to see if the basketball you want to buy offers multiple sizes.