I have spent more than 20 years playing basketball. In that time I’ve used a wide range of different basketballs. This is my review of the best Wilson basketballs in 2022.
If you love to play basketball then you know that there’s no feeling like getting out on the court to shoot around or play a game. A big part of the experience is the basketball that you play with. How it feels in your hands.
The feeling when you dribble and shoot. If you want to make the most of the experience, having a great basketball is a must.
If you are looking for a great quality basketball, Wilson makes some of the best. Wilson has been making sporting equipment for over a century so you can count on having a great experience with a Wilson basketball.
Wilson basketballs have also been the official basketball of the NCAA since 2002. Let’s take a look at some of the best basketballs Wilson has to offer.
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Who Should Get This
Whether you are a serious baller playing competitive basketball, playing recreational ball, or you just like to shoot around, Wilson basketballs can really enhance your playing experience.
There’s nothing like the feeling of using a quality basketball when you hit the court.
These basketballs aren’t just for adults, Wilson also makes many of their basketballs in youth sizes as well.
Wilson makes basketballs that are designed specifically for indoor play and they also make basketballs that can be used both indoor and outdoor.
Wilson designs them to perform best in whichever environment you are planning to use them.
Some may think that the quality of the basketball they use, does not matter. If you really think that, I challenge you to try one of these top-of-the-line basketballs and see if it makes any difference in your game.
Not only will it improve your performance but it will also enhance your basketball experience.
By improving your basketball performance and enhancing your experience, these basketballs can help to give you the confidence you need to move your game to the next level.
Just be careful, once you have one of these basketballs, everyone at your gym or playground will want to use it.
Top Picks of Best Wilson Basketballs 2022
1. Wilson Evolution
This is an incredible basketball that will change your game. If I could only have one basketball for the rest of my basketball career, this is the one I would choose.
What we like:
Wilson’s microfiber composite material provides the most efficient combination of grip and durability.
The composite channels provide excellent control.
It has a soft feel that is easy to grip in your hands and provides great control while dribbling and shooting.
Made for indoor only, so it performs great on indoor courts.
Available in official, intermediate and youth sizes.
What we don’t like:
There’s not much to dislike, the only thing I would say is that it shouldn’t be used on outdoor courts.
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2. Wilson NCAA Official Game Basketball
Since the NCAA uses this as its official game ball, you know it is a quality basketball. This is another basketball that will perform extremely well and help you improve your game.
What we like:
It’s the official game ball of March Madness.
It’s made with moisture-absorbing material, providing great grip in extreme playing conditions.
The composite channels provide excellent control.
It has a soft feel that is easy to grip in your hands and provides great control while dribbling and shooting.
Made for indoor only, so it performs great on indoor courts.
What we don’t like:
It is not available in youth size.
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3. Wilson Wave
This is a versatile basketball with great performance and great feel. The Wilson wave is fun to play with and gives you awesome ball control.
What we like:
It has extra grooves cut into its exterior to provide extra ball control and an even better grip.
Made from synthetic material to provide great durability indoor and outdoor.
The combination of composite leather and ultra-durable rubber gives it a great feel and playing experience.
What we don’t like:
It may not perform as well on indoor courts.
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Best Wilson Basketballs: What to Consider in 2022
Indoor/Outdoor
You will need to make sure you get the correct ball for where you will be playing. Indoor, outdoor or indoor/outdoor. It is very important that you never use an indoor ball outdoors.
If you do, it will destroy the outer material on the ball because it is not made for rough concrete or asphalt surfaces.
Any ball that can be used outdoor can generally be used indoors, so they are normally considered indoor/outdoor basketballs, but some may be labeled just “outdoor”.
This usually just means they are made from a material that is best suited for outdoor use, but using it indoors will not damage it.
Grip
The grip of the basketball can be different depending on the type of material it is made of. You want to find a basketball that has a good grip and sticks to your hands very well.
Some Wilson basketballs such as the Wave have special grooves in them to help enhance the basketball’s grip.
Durability
Of course, you will want to find a basketball that is made of durable material and will last for a long time. The composite materials used to make the basketball will affect how long the basketball will last.
They also affect the grip so there is often a trade-off between the two. Wilson does a very good job of creating a ball that has both good grip and good durability.
Available Sizes
The basketball will come in the standard official size, but does it come in any youth sizes?
Also Read:
Best Indoor Basketballs
Best Outdoor Basketballs
Best Youth Basketballs for Kids
Useful Tips and Resources
As we have discussed some of the important features of Wilson basketballs, I have often mentioned the importance of grip.
A good grip on a basketball helps you to hold on and control the ball. While the grip of the ball you use is very important, you can also work on your own strength and grip of your hands.
Check out this video for more information on strengthening your own grip to where you can palm a basketball.
When you have a nice basketball, it can also be fun to learn some cool tricks. If you ever wanted to learn how to spin a basketball on your finger, take a look at this video.
Final Words
Having a nice basketball really enhances your basketball playing experience. Wilson has been making great sporting equipment for a long time.
Wilson’s current line of basketballs are some of the best around, so if you get a chance, be sure to check them out.
Wilson Wave Basketball Review
Hoops Fiend Rating: Wilson Wave Basketball
Bounce: 3/5
Grip: 5/5
Feel: 4/5
Durability: 3.5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
Main Features
Grooves a.k.a “Waves” are embedded via the Triple Threat Technology in the composite leather cover to enhance grip
The ball is designed to have superior feel through a low-density sponge rubber and ultra-durable butyl bladder
Has the most grip of any of the basketballs that we have reviewed to date
While being used outside the waves work to minimize the affects of dirt build up
The Wilson Wave has a wide-channel design
As we received our basketballs for testing, the Wilson Wave Basketball really stuck out to us. No other ball has such a unique design and patented technology and we were excited to try it out. It quickly became apparent that the Wilson Wave was designed with one objective: to maximize the grip of an indoor/outdoor basketball. We feel that Wilson accomplished this goal as this ball was the easiest to palm and had the most grip out of all the basketballs we tested. One concern that we do have is that practicing with a ball with these extra grooves will make it more difficult to transition to a typically designed basketball during games.
The Wilson Wave Basketball is fairly average in terms of its bounce and consistency. While the ball is pretty reliable, there were instances where we felt that the ball had some errant bounces during testing. It is hard to tell if the Waves built within the cover may contribute to this.
Based on the features and the testing that we did with the Wilson Wave, we feel that this ball will likely last about as long as an average premium indoor/outdoor basketball. The cover feels soft but not so much as to be the equivalent as a basketball specifically meant for indoor play. We expect that you will get two to three years of use if the ball is used on a regular basis, it may last longer with less frequent use.
The Wilson Wave Basketball is typically priced in the mid thirty dollar range, which is slightly higher than most quality indoor/outdoor basketballs. While the Wave technology will add value for some buyers who place a high priority on basketball grip, we do not see how this technology separates this basketball from some other similarly priced basketballs such as the Spalding Replica Game Ball and the Under Armour 595 that we feel perform better overall.
Pros
The grip on the Wilson Wave is awesome and will allow players to palm this basketball who have been unable to with other basketballs
The composite leather cover and the Wilson Wave basketball is soft and provides a cushioned feel
If you prefer wide and deep channels then this basketball would be a great choice
This is likely your best choice if you are set on Wilson Basketballs and are looking for a new indoor/outdoor basketball
Cons
Players who use the Wilson Wave Basketball may become used to having the extra grip that this ball provides and may have a difficult time transitioning to other basketballs that do not have the waves embedded
The bounce of this basketball is pretty average and at times will come of the court a little “funky”
Priced higher than some other options that we feel are as good or better than the Wilson Wave, in particular the Baden Contender
It goes without saying that Wilson has come up with a pretty unique and innovative design with the Wilson Wave Basketball. The ball is better than the average basketball we tested, but still has strengths and weaknesses that you will want to consider when making a buying decision. We believe that this is a good choice for the majority of basketball players out there, especially those who put a high value on the grip of the basketball.
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KHARKIV, UKRAINE - OCTOBER 8, 2020: Wilson's basketball, close-up view of the floor. Ukrainian Basketball Championship.
— Photo by vitaliivitleo
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The most famous volleyball in the world
He was Tom Hanks' partner. Wilson is one of the main characters in the movie Cast Away.
“Wilson, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Wilson! Wilson! Wilsoooooon!" - shouts the hero Tom Hanks a volleyball floating away from him into the open ocean. Agree, this does not look like an episode during which the audience should cry bitterly, but it becomes hard on the soul from the feeling of loss - at this moment there is a farewell to one of the main characters of the film, into which an inanimate object suddenly turned. This is the uniqueness of the film Cast Away directed by Robert Zemeckis .
***
In the story, Chuck Noland, a FedEx delivery inspector, survives a plane crash and ends up alone on a desert island. In boxes of parcels washed ashore, he discovers video cassettes, skates and a Wilson beach volleyball - a seemingly random collection of completely useless things. But the blades of the skates will become a knife and an ax in the future, and the ball will become a real companion.
Having bled his hands in an attempt to make fire, Noland at some point loses his composure and throws everything that comes his way. The snow-white Wilson ball also gets it. When Chuck calms down, he turns the bloody print on the ball into a face - expressionless, but watching intently. Noland puts him on a stump and from that moment he and the volleyball become equal.
“Would you happen to have any matches?” Chuck calls his new friend for the first time, still trying to make a fire. When this still succeeds, the happy hero again begins a dialogue with his mute interlocutor: "An excellent fire, huh, Wilson?"
screenwriter William Broyles came up with the idea to personalize the ball. Not only did he consult with survival experts, but he himself decided to spend a week on an isolated beach in the Gulf of California. During his adventure, a volleyball washed up on the beach, and Broyles decided that it would be a great move to create dialogue in a situation where there is only one person.
In the scene in the cave, when Noland is getting ready to knock out his bad tooth, Broyles put in a small Easter egg. “I would give anything to have a dentist in this cave. Too bad you're not a dentist. Dr. Wilson. Do you want to laugh? Back in Memphis, my dentist's name was James Spaulding,” says Chuck. The fact is that Spalding is a brand of basketballs that have been played in the NBA since 1983 years old.
When we return to the cave four years later, we see Wilson, blackened with dirt, but given his hair. Noland communicates with him, consults and even swears. “We can make it. Didn't it cross your mind? It's better to try your luck and perish in the ocean than to stay here and die on this damned island, spending the rest of your days dabbling with a stupid volleyball! Shut up asshole!" - with these words, Chuck throws the ball off the cliff, but immediately rushes to save it.
"The movie Cast Away reveals a profound truth about the unstoppable social nature of Homo sapiens," says Harvard researcher John Casioppo , who has studied people's tendency to humanize inanimate objects - anthropomorphization. This is partly caused by a sense of fear from loneliness. “Inhuman connections can be very powerful. The brain is not so sensitive to whether this person is or not, especially if the object has features similar to a person, ”says a doctor of psychology Nicholas Epley from the University of Chicago. For Hanks personally, the name Wilson definitely meant a lot, because Rita Wilson is the creative pseudonym of his wife Margarita Ibrahimoff .
But let's get back to the plot of the film. Noland builds a raft, securely fixes Wilson on it, and together they overcome dangerous waves near the island, but a powerful storm in the ocean separates them. Chuck is screaming and choking with tears - it's amazing how the volleyball has become the brightest character in the film. Rogue One fans joked that he should win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and certainly an award for Best Inanimate Object.
As a result, Wilson helped Hanks win the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actor, but in the fight for the Oscar, Hanks lost to Russell Crowe - in the same 2000, the epic film Gladiator was released. Most interestingly, Cast Away grossed $430 million at the box office, only $20 million less than the special effects historical drama. According to the users of "Kinopoisk", "Rogue One" with a rating of 8.2 is ranked 73rd in the list of the best films in history.
***
Wilson prepared a replica ball with a bloody handprint for the release of Rogue One - the limited edition sold out instantly. You can buy the ball on the official website of the company even now - for $19.99. The original props, which were used during the filming of the film, were sold at auction for 18.5 thousand dollars to the former president of FedEx Office Kenneth May .
Interestingly, despite the massive publicity through the film, Wilson didn't take over the volleyball world. Yes, balls of this company are used in all big beach volleyball tournaments in the USA, but Japanese brands Mikasa or Molten are preferred in the halls. By the way, Mikasa is the official partner of the International Volleyball Federation and it is these yellow-blue balls that are played at the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
Wilson thrives on other sports. The brand's baseball traps are the most popular in MLB, and tennis stars play the company's rackets, for example, Roger Federer and sisters Williams . Wilson also provides balls for Major League Football (NFL) and Collegiate Basketball (NCAA).
ICYMI at the #NYR game last night Tom Hanks and Wilson were finally reunited! #BFF
New York Rangers extension (@nyrangers)
Hanks himself is not a big fan of volleyball, but he can often be found at New York Rangers hockey games. In 2015, Tom met an old friend at Madison Square Garden. "Tonight, Tom Hanks and Wilson are finally reunited!" – wrote the instagram of the club.
This is another basketball that will perform extremely well and help you improve your game. 
You want to find a basketball that has a good grip and sticks to your hands very well.
No other ball has such a unique design and patented technology and we were excited to try it out. It quickly became apparent that the Wilson Wave was designed with one objective: to maximize the grip of an indoor/outdoor basketball. We feel that Wilson accomplished this goal as this ball was the easiest to palm and had the most grip out of all the basketballs we tested. One concern that we do have is that practicing with a ball with these extra grooves will make it more difficult to transition to a typically designed basketball during games. 
The cover feels soft but not so much as to be the equivalent as a basketball specifically meant for indoor play. We expect that you will get two to three years of use if the ball is used on a regular basis, it may last longer with less frequent use.
The ball is better than the average basketball we tested, but still has strengths and weaknesses that you will want to consider when making a buying decision. We believe that this is a good choice for the majority of basketball players out there, especially those who put a high value on the grip of the basketball.
Ukrainian Basketball Championship. 
Reverse block color means the base is bold multicolor design including the colors of UEFAKHARKIV, UKRAINE - JULY 4, 2020: Adidas official match 2019. The reverse color of the block means the base is a bold multicolor design incorporating the colors of the UEFA football goals and football net. Football concept. village stadium .Kharkiv, Ukraine - July 6, 2020: Adidas ball of UEFA Madrid 2019 final. Football match of Ukrainian Football Championship Zhytlobud-1 - Mariupol 
Wilson is one of the main characters in the movie Cast Away. 
This is partly caused by a sense of fear from loneliness. “Inhuman connections can be very powerful. The brain is not so sensitive to whether this person is or not, especially if the object has features similar to a person, ”says a doctor of psychology Nicholas Epley from the University of Chicago. For Hanks personally, the name Wilson definitely meant a lot, because Rita Wilson is the creative pseudonym of his wife Margarita Ibrahimoff . 
Most interestingly, Cast Away grossed $430 million at the box office, only $20 million less than the special effects historical drama. According to the users of "Kinopoisk", "Rogue One" with a rating of 8.2 is ranked 73rd in the list of the best films in history. 
