Basketball balls Spalding

From 1894 to the Euroleague, the story of Spalding

Spalding was founded in 1876 in Chicago by Albert Spalding, a star baseball pitcher. In 1894, three years after the invention of basketball, the brand made the very first ball specially designed for this game, made of laced brown leather. It was again she who produced, in 1958, the first orange ball requested by coach Tony Hinkle, making it more visible for players and the audience.

The brand supplied the official ball of the NBA from 1983 to 2021. Since 2012, she has also supplied the official ball of the Euroleague and EuroCup, a role currently held in matches by the Legacy made of composite leather.

Other brands

Basketballs are also available from:

• Molten.
• Wilson.
• Nike.
• adidas.
• Peak.
• Mikasa.
• Tremblay CT.

All the balls are gathered on the balls page.

Legacy, Gold, Silver, React: read the TF range

The Spalding range spans from match balls to playground balls. At the top, the Legacy made of composite leather, with a soft and slightly sticky grip, is designed for indoor competition. The TF Gold and TF Silver, made of composite, provide a similar feel for club training. The React, with a more durable composite cover, transitions from indoor to outdoor courts.

The Varsity, made of rubber, withstands the asphalt of playgrounds, and the Layup, an entry-level ball, is ideal for beginners and playground games. Depending on the models, sizes range from five, for mini-basket children, to seven, for boys from U15 and men.

Spaldeen balls for clubs and mini Euroleague balls

The Spaldeen balls in the colours of ASVEL, AS Monaco and Baskonia are aimed at fans of these Euroleague clubs: ASVEL from Villeurbanne, the most successful club in France, Monaco, a Euroleague finalist in 2025, and Baskonia, the club from Vitoria-Gasteiz. The mini balls from Euroleague featuring Paris Basketball, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, are smaller and can be played with in a room or collected on a shelf.

To prolong the life of a composite ball, reserve it for indoor use, wipe it down with a damp cloth after use, and store it away from heat, which can warp the cover and affect the pressure.

Good deals

Great deals can also be found in the good deals, promotions, clearance sales, sales, Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and items shipped within 24h are prepared and dispatched in 24 hours. The highlights of the year follow a stable order: the Black Friday at the end of autumn, the holiday season, winter sales, the French Days in spring, then the summer sales and back-to-school.

Frequently asked questions

What size Spalding ball for a child?

Up to the U11 category, children play with size five, which is smaller and lighter. Size six takes over in U13 for boys and for all girls from this age, while size seven is for boys from U15 onwards.

Which Spalding ball for playing outdoors?

On asphalt, the Varsity made of rubber stands up best to abrasion. The React, with a reinforced composite cover, is suitable if you switch between indoor and outdoor courts, although it wears out a bit faster outdoors.

At what pressure do I inflate a Spalding ball?

The recommended pressure is printed near the valve. Inflate with a moistened needle and check with a gauge or by the bounce: dropped from shoulder height, the ball should bounce back up to about waist height.

Is a new Spalding ball slippery?

A new composite ball may feel smooth during the first sessions: the cover gains grip with use. Wipe it regularly, as dust from the court reduces grip even more than wear itself.

What is the difference between a match ball and a training ball?

The match ball, made of high-quality composite leather, offers a consistent feel and bounce expected in competition. The training ball, more robust, withstands repeated sessions and mixed use, making it the choice of clubs for their practice balls.