The Best AND1 Basketballs to Purchase [2023 Buying Guide]

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Now AND1 isn’t a brand that you hear much about these days when it comes to conversations about basketball.

Because of massive players like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Puma, Wilson and Spalding, AND1 has sort of been left to fight for what’s left of the basketball consumer market.

Established in 1993, the brand started off as a graduate school project between three people – Jay Coen Gilbert, Seth Berger, and Tom Austin – who sold t-shirts with trash talk slogans on them from the backseats of their vehicles.

Shortly after this, AND1 introduced itself as a footwear manufacturer by releasing its first pair of basketball sneakers.

From then on, they managed to recruit NBA players who endorsed their footwear, and by 2001 the company was only second to Nike in terms of market share among NBA endorsees.

And further down the line, AND1 ventured into other product areas like athletic apparel and basketball accessories.

It’s pretty safe to say that even today, their reputation as a quality sportswear brand is still intact.

Because AND1 is anchored in the streetball mentality, their work as a producer showcases their appreciation for the sophistication of basketball lifestyle and culture experienced in different parts of the world.

In fact, many Americans rock AND1 footwear in today’s modernized world, and there’s quite a few more who love to play with their range of basketballs.

And that brings us on to the main topic of this post.

This article will take a detailed look at the finest AND1 basketballs that consumers can buy on the market today.

Here’s our list of the top picks:

The AND1 Ultra Grip Advanced Premium Rubber Basketball is our recommended choice. Not only does it look fantastic with its unique blend of color, as it also offers the grip and robustness that streetball players need through its deep channel construction and premium rubber material that ensures it can withstand the wear and tear that comes from playing with it pretty much anywhere.

Now let’s dig into this ball and the others down below.

1. AND1 Ultra Grip Advanced Premium Rubber Basketball

The first thing you notice when your eyes lock in with this AND1 Ultra Grip Basketball is the brilliant way in which colors have been combined to make an aesthetically pleasing product.

Just look at it!

Blotches of pink, yellow and blue blend in with each other magnificently well.

One thing’s for sure, if you were to play basketball at night, then you’d have no problem spotting this ball in the dark because it’s clearly been made with visibility in mind.

Anyway, let’s move on to the more important features of this basketball that firmly establish it at the very top of the pile.

Deep channel construction

Basketballs need to be easy to grip onto for players because the game involves specific actions like dribbling, shooting, passing and catching.

A basketball that’s hard to hold on to when a player performs any one of the aforementioned tasks clearly affects the way in which they play and results in a frustrating game experience.

That’s why AND1 focused quite heavily on making sure that players are able to latch onto this ball with ease.

It has an advanced deep channel construction that gives the ball an extra tackiness which improves handling as well as control when actions like dribbling are performed.

More so, this ball is a great choice for those younger players who may not have as much strength in their hands and arms to hold onto a basketball.

High quality rubber material

Another area where AND1 did quite well with this ball is their use of premium cushioned rubber material to make the outer covering.

You see, normally rubber basketballs aren’t as durable as those made from composite leather, but in this case, we have a bit of an exception.

This is a street ball that’s purpose built to withstand the wear and tear that comes from both indoor and outdoor play, so whether you’re bouncing it on a pristine hardwood court floor or the rough and uneven concrete in the local park, it should serve you well.

Other specifications

• Ball size – official size 7 (29.5”)
• Outer cover material – rubber
• Package weight – 0.89 kilograms

2. AND1 Supreme Grip Rubber Basketball

Next up we have the AND1 Supreme Grip Rubber Basketball.

This one is virtually identical in specification to the previously reviewed Ultra Grip model, so there isn’t much to talk about that you wouldn’t already be aware of.

But nevertheless, the article will give a breakdown of the qualities of this ball.

Color-wise, the ball is a little less outstanding but it still manages to turn heads.

AND1 have gone for a graffiti looking design for the ball’s outer cover, as they’ve managed to incorporate red, grey and black highlights in an artsy style.

If you’re someone that loves basketball aesthetics then you will most likely be impressed with this one’s appearance.

Let’s now look at what this basketball has to offer from a performance perspective.

Deep channel construction

Grip.

Grip and more grip!

AND1 have made sure that this ball is easy to catch and keep a firm hold of.

The last thing a basketball player would want is to have trouble with their handles because the basketball is too slippery.

You don’t have to worry about fumbling your shot with this ball as its deep channels ensure that you have all the grip and control that you need when throwing the ball.

Premium rubber shell

Aside from actual performance, this ball also does well when it comes to the matter of durability.

No doubt as a buyer you want your basketball to last for as long as possible – whether that be a couple of matches or a few seasons.

AND1 certainly never skimped on the quality of raw materials used to construct this ball, as they’ve used a premium rubber material for its outer cover.

This rubber is good enough to withstand the wear and tear associated with indoor and outdoor play, so rest assured you have a basketball that is built for longevity.

Other specifications

• Ball size – official size 7 (29.5”)
• Outer cover material – sponge rubber
• Package weight – 0.87 kilograms

Alternatively, if you’re after a street ball that offers a bit more durability through its outer material, then you should plump for the AND1 Street Grip Premium Composite Leather Basketball.

This one is made of composite leather that holds up much better over time than a rubber ball, not to mention the fact that this material offers players even better grip and control.

3. AND1 Xcelerate Rubber Basketball

The AND1 Xcelerate Basketball is next in the list.

If you’ve admired the use of color on the previously reviewed models then you’re going to be quite disappointed with this one, because it only comes in a distinct classic black and classic orange.

However, there is a particular feature of this ball that makes up for its relative blandness.

Flat channel construction

AND1 made this ball with a flat channel construction.

The company focuses quite heavily on making sure that all of the basketballs it produces come with good levels of grip for players, and this one is no exception.

It features enhanced pebbling which shows that the brand put a lot of thought into how they want this ball to feel in the palm of a basketball player.

The fineness of the pebbling is enough to boost grip yet at the same time not be a hindrance when it comes to comfort, as the ball is soft enough to the touch that a player feels great when they bounce it along the floor and hold it in their hands.

Video review

Here’s a little demonstration that shows this ball being unboxed from its packaging:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLcZPG8eEg

As you can see from the footage it bounces well and it also comes with a pump that you can use to inflate it.

Other specifications

• Ball size – official size 7 (29.5”)
• Outer cover material – rubber
• Package weight – 0.75 kilograms

4. AND1 Hydrogrip Premium Composite Leather Basketball

Last but not least, we have the AND1 Hydrogrip Premium Composite Leather Basketball.

This one is probably the most technologically advanced of the bunch, and here’s why.

Moisture absorbing technology

Basketball games and practice sessions can be quite intense.

Whenever a lot of physical exertion is involved, people tend to sweat a lot.

This happens in basketball, especially when players perspire from their armpits as well as their palms.

AND1 decided to create a ball from a high-quality moisture wicking material which works to repel sweat instead of accommodate it.

So, you’ll find that this basketball remains tacky even as players sweat on the court during game play.

Because of this, players can fully concentrate on their performance instead of having to worry about wiping sweat away from the ball with their t-shirt, shorts or undershirt.

Premium composite leather material

AND1 wanted this ball to be as robust as possible, so they went with composite leather for its outer shell as opposed to cheaper rubber.

Customers will definitely appreciate this as they’ll definitely get more hours of gameplay out of this ball without considerable wear and tear to the material.

This ball can also handle outdoor play as well as use inside the gym, so players don’t have to be picky with the locations where they decide to give it a bounce.

Other specifications

• Ball size – official regulation size 7 (29.5”)
• Outer cover material – composite leather
• Package weight – 0.9 kilograms

Other AND1 basketballs worth considering

Admittedly, a lot of AND1’s basketballs have the same specifications.

They do a very good job of being creative with color, so as a consumer you tend to think that there are many different variations within their product range but this isn’t really the case.

You can check out the list below which details some other AND1 basketballs that you might want to evaluate:

Buying considerations for AND1 basketballs

With that out of the way, you’re one step away from being fully equipped to buy a great AND1 basketball.

But you need to think about your specific playing needs before you get out your credit card.

Ball construction

There are two choices here when it comes to ball construction.

You either go for a rubber ball that’s made from cheaper material or you opt for premium composite leather.

Now there isn’t much difference in durability between the two components these days, thanks to the fact that technological advancements have bridged the quality gap.

However, the rule still generally applies.

So, if you’re after more longevity, then go for an AND1 basketball that’s been made from composite leather as opposed to rubber.

You’ll definitely thank me later!

Extra accessories

Do you need a basketball that comes packaged with a complementary inflation pump?

If so, you might want to consider going for such an offering.

You may be able to save money on the cost of buying a pump separately if the two items are included together as a single package, which is good because you essentially hit two birds with one stone.

At some point your basketball may lose air and need re-inflating, which is why if you opt for a basketball that comes with this extra accessory and a few inflation needles then you’ll save yourself another trip to the shops.

Moisture management

Some players suffer from a condition called hyperhidrosis – where they sweat as a result of being nervous.

If you get clammy hands when you play, then you may want to go for a basketball that comes with moisture management capabilities.

Such basketballs are able to keep sweat away through a process called moisture wicking, which ensures that you have a dry ball that you can easily grip on to as you move on the court.

Which AND1 basketball is best?

Ultimately, it’s quite a tough choice to pick an overall winner.

Most of the basketballs reviewed above make a solid case for being the top product, but that title arguably goes to the AND1 Ultra Grip Advanced Premium Rubber Basketball.

This ball has got dazzling color and it’s tacky enough to offer good on-court performance for players – quite a healthy combination indeed.

Should you also be interested in another good brand of basketball, then check out our product roundup on the best Baden basketballs or our post on the best Molten basketballs.