Okay, so I got this basketball plush for my nephew's birthday, and it's honestly adorable. The legs make it look like a little sports character – way cuter than a regular ball!

The fabric is SUPER soft, like 'I-want-to-steal-it-for-myself' soft. My nephew immediately started using it as a pillow during movie night. The size is perfect (11 inches) – not too big to carry around but still great for hugging.

One thing to note: It arrives looking like a pancake because of the vacuum packaging! Don't panic – just fluff it up and maybe toss it in the dryer for a bit. Mine looked normal after about a day.

Quality-wise, it's holding up well after two months of kid love (and occasional soccer matches against the couch). The stitching seems solid, and the color hasn't faded even though it's been dragged everywhere.

Only downside? It's slightly heavier than I expected – not feather-light like some plushies. But my nephew says that makes it feel more 'real', so who am I to argue?

Final verdict: 4.8/5 stars (minus 0.2 for the initial pancake situation). Would totally buy again as a gift!