10 Best Basketballs for Kids Reviewed in 2024

Ease of Use

If your little one is ready to try shooting hoops, then the SKLZ Pro Mini Swish Foam Ball is a great place to start. It’s the perfect size for young kids. The foam is firm and has some bounce to it, so young kids will be able to shoot hoops with no problems. They can dribble or shoot hoops without a problem.

Durabiity

The foam makes it quiet, so it’s perfect for indoor play without endangering your belongings or annoying your neighbors. This versatile ball can be used with mini basketball hoops or for a simple game of catch. It is durable and doesn’t need to be inflated like a traditional basketball.

Design

Kids will find the SKLZ Pro Mini Swish Foam Ball irresistible. Play, in general, has a number of benefits for children. Play helps develop children’s self-confidence as they master skills, such as making a basket. Physical play develops children’s motor skills, flexibility, and balance. It also helps develop their muscles as they dribble and toss the ball. Basketball, in particular, helps to develop both fine and gross motor skills, provide ankle stability, develop hand/eye coordination, and agility. As children begin to play in teams, it also teaches important social skills such as teamwork and compromise.

Ease of Use

Unless you happen to live somewhere that is sunny 24 hours a day, it's likely that your child has had their play time cut short by nightfall. Once dusk falls it would difficult and unsafe to continue playing basketball as a missed throw could result in a lost ball or, even worse, a broken nose. Thankfully GlowCity has stepped in to solve this problem with their revolutionary Light Up Basketball! This illuminated ball has been carefully crafted to maintain the proper weight and size of an official adult-level basketball

Durability

The balance has also been adjusted to compensate for the two internal LED’s that provide a full-bodied glow with zero wobble. This bright ball would make the perfect addition to your child’s backyard basketball games and could even steal the spotlight as a talent show or trick shot performance.

Design

This glowing globe comes pre-installed with two bright LEDs situated in individual internal casings that provide a full almost fire-like glowing experience. The LEDs are impact activated to ensure that the light turns on with the very first dribble. It also contains an automatic shut off mechanism that will power down the ball after 40 seconds on non-use, preserving battery life. Three AG13 batteries on each side of the ball will provide power for up to 30 hours of gameplay and can be easily replaced using the provided tool once depleted.

Ease of Use

In the summer there are few things that beat the heat like a good dip in the pool. Floating and swimming can be relaxing but ultimately rather boring. Spice up your next pool party with the Dunnrite Pool/Water Basketball! This blue and white basketball has been specifically designed for water play.

Durability

Its small 8-inch diameter makes it the perfect size for small hands to grasp and throw. The durable exterior won’t fade if it's left in the sun or even if it’s forgotten in the pool. Chlorine doesn’t even faze this ball! This ball was designed specifically to pair with the Dunnrite Junior Hoop Swimming Pool Basketball Hoop but its small size makes it ideal for any brand of floating or poolside hoop.

Design

Swimming is a heavily aerobic sport that can help burn body fat and improve muscle tone. Water is 12 times denser than air and the extra resistance translates into more calorie burning with less strain on your joints. Studies have also shown that swimming can release the same endorphins as traditional exercises which can have a positive effect on your sense of well-being by providing relaxation. If you combine aquatic exercise with the cardiovascular workout of a sport such as Basketball, you are providing your child with an enjoyable way to improve their flexibility and maintain an overall better fitness level. Plus, its a lot of fun!

Ease of Use

If your son or daughter plays for a school basketball team or private league, it's likely that they have sought ways to help improve their overall basketball skills. The Baden SkilCoach Heavy Trainer Rubber Basketball was designed specifically to assist young players to train with an appropriately sized, weighted basketball. This ball can help improve your child’s strength and shooting range as well as ball handling skills.

Durability

The high-quality rubber construction is durable enough to hold up to exhaustive hours of training. A plethora of training videos and drills exist to help direct your child in the proper way to utilize this ball in order to help build their basketball skills while still providing the look and feel of a traditional ball. Best of all it arrives fully inflated and the thick rubber coating will prevent leaks.

Design

This basketball is designed to be heavier than a traditional basketball to assist with strength training. While normal intermediate size basketballs weigh a little over 1 pound, this ball provides between 2.5 and 3 pounds of playing weight. This extra weight is perfect to help strengthen your child’s off hand, increase their muscle memory, and extend their shooting range. The extra weight will make this ball bounce a bit flat which can be frustrating but if overcome will highly improve your child’s dribbling ability when switching back to a standard weighted ball. It can also curb bad habits in young players such as one-handed rebounding and the official-size version of this basketball is utilized by professional players daily for their training regimens.

Ease of Use

Looking for a lightweight basketball to start your little one off right? The Spalding Rookie Gear Indoor/Outdoor Composite 27.5 Youth Basketball is a bright, fun ball that’s specifically designed for children age eight and younger. This ball weighs less than standard youth balls, making it easier for young children to throw, dribble, and pass.

Durability

It’s made from durable, high-performance leather and has excellent grip, which is ideal for learning basketball basics and developing confidence. It has good bounce and is designed for indoor or outdoor play. It’s perfect for children just learning the game or for children who have a bit of experience but want a ball that’s lighter and easier to shoot and pass.

Design

Basketball is a great way to enhance your child’s development. The Spalding Rookie Gear Indoor/Outdoor Composite 27.5 Youth Basketball helps your child develop important physical, emotional, and social skills. Learning the skills of dribbling and shooting help your child develop strength and coordination. The running involved in a game of basketball also builds up their physical endurance. Learning a new skill can be frustrating, giving your child a chance to learn to manage their emotions and bounce back from challenges. The team aspect of the sport gives your child a sense of belonging and confidence. They learn to interact with others and how to be a good team player, supporting and learning from others.

Ease of Use

Got a future NBA star in the making? The Spalding NBA Mini Basketball is an excellent place to start. It has a traditional rubber cover, giving it the feel of a real basketball while being light and small enough for smaller hands. It’s just the right size for learning the basics of the game without the awkwardness of a larger ball.

Durability

It has good bounce, so your children can learn to dribble and rebound. Its bright colors make it distinctive and fun, and it has the official NBA logo printed on it. It’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use and comes inflated. It’s durable and has a one year warranty.

Design

The small size of the Spalding NBA Mini Basketball makes it perfect for introducing children to basketball. It’s light and easy to handle, so your children can learn to dribble and shoot, which improves their hand/eye coordination and gross motor skills, in addition to building strength. The pivoting and movement of the game improves your child’s balance. The running involved during the game builds up their aerobic endurance and stamina. Playing with other children teaches them teamwork and gives them a sense of belonging. Learning new skills gives children a sense of achievement and pride, which boosts their self-esteem.

Ease of Use

If you’re looking for a traditional ball in a smaller size, the Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber is a great choice. With a durable rubber cover, it’s designed for heavy use in a game after game. It’s primarily for outdoor use, but it can be used indoors as well. It has wide channels for ball control and a tacky grip, which helps to control the ball for better shooting

Durability

It’s perfect for older children who are just learning basketball, or more experienced players who are improving their skills in the game. Its interior is strong as well, holding in the air to keep it firm and bouncy.

Design

Enjoying a game of basketball with the Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber Basketball provides children with numerous health, emotional, and social benefits. Playing basketball helps children develop their gross motor skills as they learn to throw and dribble. The quick starts and stops of the game develop their agility. The running up and down the court helps children develop their overall endurance. Learning a game gives children a healthy outlet for emotions. The team aspects of basketball provide children with important social skills, including sharing, working as a team, and compromising. They learn how to express themselves verbally and build relationships, giving them important social tools for the future.

Ease of Use

For a ball that also teaches your child how to play, try the SportimeMax Hands-On Basketball - Junior Size. It’s bright and fun, with alternating colors to show whether the ball is rotating correctly when it’s released. Correct hand placement for shooting is shown in red for right-handed children and blue for left-handed children, with black for common hand contact positions. All children need to do to develop good technique is to line their fingers up with the outlines on the ball and shoot. It’s also suited to dribbling and passing.

Durability

It’s made from durable rubber. It has good bounce and is good for indoor or outdoor play.

Design

Learning good technique is important for mastering any sport, including basketball. The SportimeMax Hands-On Basketball - Junior Size helps children learn good basketball technique for shooting. This, in turn, helps children develop dexterity, muscle strength, and good hand/eye coordination. Passing and dribbling also provide children with muscle development and dexterity. Being able to shoot the basketball accurately gives children a sense of accomplishment, improving their self-confidence. Basketball builds overall endurance and flexibility as children run with frequent starts and stops. Basketball gives children a fun outlet for play. As they learn to play with other children and as part of a team, they develop important social skills such as assertiveness and negotiation.

Ease of Use

It’s small enough to work with a children’s basketball hoop. Since it’s soft foam, it’s quiet and suitable for indoor play as well as outdoor. The soft foam also makes it safer for play, since it’s less likely to cause injury. The company also offers a money-back guarantee.

Durability

With its adorable pink and blue color scheme, the Pro Mini Basketball, Chastep, 6 Inch Foam Ball is a fun way to learn basketball. It’s made from non-toxic polyurethane and is antimicrobial. It has a good grip and it’s lightweight, making it easy to throw. It had good bounce, so little ones can begin learning the basics of the game such as dribbling and rebounding.

Design

While learning to play basketball with the Pro Mini Basketball, Chastep, 6 Inch Foam Ball, children develop gross and fine motor skills as they learn to shoot, pass, and dribble. Basketball helps children develop stamina and endurance as they run around. Their strength develops as they use their arms to shoot and dribble and their legs to run, stop, start, and pivot. As children learn the team aspects of the game, they develop important social skills such as negotiation and communication. Mastering new skills also helps children gain confidence and self-esteem

Ease of Use

When you have a toddler, you learn quickly how little things that might be insignificant to you can leave your little one absolutely devastated. Nothing can be more heartbreaking for a 2-year-old than the loss of their favorite basketball. Whether your previous Little Tikes ball took a dirt nap after the puppy got hold of it or simply disappeared into the same unknown void that claims socks and Tupperware lids, your child will be the first to let you know that just any old ball is not going to replace it. It has to be the SAME ball. Fortunately, Little Tikes prepared for this eventuality with their Replacement Ball.

Durability

This soft plastic basketball is an exact replica of the one that comes standard with most Little Tikes basketball hoops. It features a bright orange appearance that makes it very easy to find in tall grass or shrubs, perfect for backyard play. It's softer and more lightweight material lets your little one grip and hold it just like a big kid. Get ready to be your little one’s hero with this replacement basketball!

Design

This basketball is only a little over 18 inches around, the perfect size for small hands and fingers to grasp and build gross-motor skills. The material is more lightweight and soft compared to traditional basketballs which makes it easier for your child to bounce and throw. This ball is perfect for encouraging outdoor play which can help your little one develop muscle tone and reduces the likelihood of developing childhood obesity.