Basketball
The basketball is produced in several sizes: men’s “seventh” (circumference 749–780 mm, weight 567–650 g), women’s “sixth” and a smaller “fifth” for mini-basketball and children.
The FIBA standard for men's competition is a circumference of 749.3 mm and a weight of 567–650 g at 7.5–8.5 psi; for women - circumference 724–737 mm and weight 510–567 g.
According to the rules, the ball has a spherical shape, a traditional orange hue and a pattern of eight inserts with black seams. The first basketball was made by the founder of the Spalding company, Albert Spalding, in honor of James Naismith, the author of the game; Since 1983, Spalding has made official NBA balls.
Balls are divided into two types: only for halls (indoor) and universal (indoor/outdoor). For parquet, take a ball with soft leather or composite - it holds a good grip; for the street you need a denser and more wear-resistant material, otherwise the coating will quickly wear off on the asphalt.
It is worth inflating the ball to the specified pressure: an underinflated one bounces off the parquet worse, an overinflated one is hard and less controllable.
Seventh: circumference 749–780 mm, weight 567–650 g.
Size 6 - circumference 724–737 mm and weight 510–567 g.
Street balls are made of denser, wear-resistant material; halls - with a soft coating for better grip on parquet.
According to the FIBA standard - 7.5–8.5 psi.
Publication date: 10/11/2026. Dimensions, weights and pressures verified as of this date.
For adult men's basketball you need a ball of size 7, for women's game - size 6, children need size 5; the pressure in the inflated ball is 7.5–8.5 psi. The general rules of the game are discussed in the articlebasketball, club tournaments - in materialsNBAAndEuroleague.