Spalding NBA Street Phantom™ Basketball

I have recently purchased a number of different basketballs, and the Under Armour Steph Curry ball had been the one I liked best, until I tried the Spaulding NBA Street Phantom ball. The grip, feel, and playability of the Phantom ball are outstanding and considering the modest price I paid, it was a tremendous value.The “soft grip” material that the ball is constructed from has a unique “spongy” feel. When you squeeze the ball the material compresses slightly, which helps provide an excellent grip. Also contributing factors are side panels that are higher than average, and extra wide channels which run between them. The ball is not perfectly round, which makes it easier for some to palm the ball.Weighing about 20.4 ounces, the Street Phantom ball is lighter than many outdoor basketballs. The result of all these factors is a ball that has excellent balance, and is easy to grip, and is extremely controllable in all phases of play.I have not played with it for an extended period, so I can’t speak with great certainty regarding durability, however the softer material is more prone to wear, and damage from sharp metal objects. The Street Phantom ball is not as tough as the original Spaulding NBA Street ball, which has very durable skin.I now own several Street Phantom balls, and highly recommend them. Brand new, the grip is amazing, and if you play indoors on a wood court, most of that grip should be retained. Even if the ball acquires a layer of dirt or dust, the grip still remains very good.The Street Phantom is available with lettering in four different colors. The green ball (#71024) looked the best to me, and at the time it was the least expensive. The price and availability of these balls has fluctuated quite a lot in 2017, when the green Phantom was as low as $8. Hopefully this terrific basketball will become available again at Amazon very soon. Amazon shipped this ball in a plain square box, the retail packaging for display is not included.

Pros:1. Official size.2. Durable.3. Already pumped up to proper pressure.4. Holds pressure well.5. Rubber surface, so you get better grip.6. Perfectly balanced (no wobbling when you spin it...a wobble means that there is irregularities in the wall of the ball with one side being heavier than the other).Cons:1. It isn't leather (ergo, why it can hold up to a rough concrete surface and show little wear, so not really a con unless you want an indoor ball).2. The rubber surface is a pro but also a con. It might give better grip, but gives less feedback and touch compared to a quality leather ball, or maybe not. Maybe I'm just getting old and I haven't played in such a long time that my touch and feel is not what they used to be.OK, I really wanted to get back into b-ball after years away from it, so I got a new backboard. I still had my old ball but it was worn out and, being leather, wasn't really suited for my rough concrete driveway. I knew it would shred and be almost useless in no time. This came up for sale and let me tell you...it is great! It is durable enough for hard outdoor play on rough surfaces and should last a long time with smooth surfaces, indoors, or surfaces that have some covering/painting done to them. The ball came pre-inflated to the correct pressure, and even after several months of use, it has maintained the pressure well (I haven't had a reason to pump air into it yet...we'll see how it is next year as it will sit in the garage all winter). The surface is rubber and this works both for it and against it. The rubber gives really good grip (a good wash and dry and you are good to go) and I can palm this ball when it is fresh (I am only 5'9"), but I just didn't "feel" the ball as well as I did with leather basketballs. This might not be the fault of the rubber surface...it could just mean that I am older and that I have been away from the sport for such a long time.All in all, you can't go wrong if you want this ball for outdoor play.

I love it. The ball is very bouncy and yet it is also very fun to play with. This ball made my son happy yet he is playing with the ball every day.