In July 2016, Netflix changed streaming culture and the landscape of nostalgic trends with its mega-hit Stranger Things. The 8-episode first season, for those who have yet to be indoctrinated, follows a group of kids in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1983 as they stumble upon top-secret paranormal experiments performed at a nearby government facility.
Now four seasons in, with the fifth and final season slated to begin filming next year, Stranger Things has partnered with the biggest name in basketball equipment, SPALDING, for a set of four balls themed around the show. SPALDING also had a big year in 1983, launching its nearly-40-year partnership with the NBA, which ended in 2021.
The new collection not only makes nods to Stranger Things but SPALDING’s history as well. Made with the exact specs as the balls from 1986, the year that season 4 takes place, the Top-Flite 100 Indoor ball is the same one used by the Hawkins High basketball team in the show, and the model that helped SPALDING land its NBA deal. Among the other basketballs is one inspired by the Hellfire Club’s D&D dice, one featuring Hawkins High’s colors and mascot, and a California-themed ball with the tongue-in-cheek “Greetings from the Upside Down” on the side.
Up for sale on SPALDING’s website starting November 13, the Stranger Things basketballs are priced at $40 each, except for the Top-Flite 100, which is $150.
