Sports · 2

What is the official diameter of a basketball in inches?

Answer

9.5

An official NBA basketball has a circumference of approximately 29.5 to 29.875 inches and a diameter of about 9.43 inches. These specifications are set by the NBA and differ slightly for women's basketball (28.5 inches circumference) and youth leagues. The basketball was designed to fit comfortably in a player's hand while providing consistent bounce and flight characteristics. Modern basketballs are made from rubber, leather, or synthetic materials, with internal air pressure between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch.

💡 Did you know?

The basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith as an indoor winter sport to keep athletes active between football and baseball seasons.

Other options people guess

  • 8.5
  • 9
  • 10

Topics

  • basketball
  • nba
  • rules

Know your sports trivia?

Play a free Sports quiz and see how many you get right — no signup needed to start.

More Sports facts

Sports

Which uniform number did Scottie Pippen wear for the Chicago Bulls during their 1991 NBA championship season?

Pippen's number 33 was retired by the Bulls alongside Michael Jordan's number 23 — a rare honor pairing two teammates whose numbers were retired together.

Sports

Which role did Jerry Krause hold for the Chicago Bulls when they won their first NBA championship in 1991?

Jerry Krause, the Bulls GM, was mocked by media as 'the best talent evaluator in basketball'—ironically, only after the 1991 championship vindicated his roster construction.

Sports

In the 1991 NBA Finals, the Bulls' series against the Lakers shifted decisively in Game 2 when Chicago switched to a smaller lineup. Which Lakers center did Phil Jackson's adjustment primarily neutralize?

Michael Jordan wore #23 partly because it was half of his older brother Larry's #45—a childhood tribute that became the most iconic number in basketball.

Sports

In which year did Jackie Robinson break the color barrier in Major League Baseball?

Jackie Robinson's jersey number 42 has been permanently retired across all of MLB, making it the only number retired league-wide.

Sports

What is the length of a marathon race in kilometers?

The marathon distance of 42.195 km was inspired by a legendary run in ancient Greece but officially standardized by the 1908 London Olympics.

Sports

Who was the first athlete to break the 4-minute mile?

Within two months of Bannister's historic 3:59.4 mile in 1954, John Landy also broke the barrier, then Bannister beat Landy's record.