Ayrton Oneill
The official basketball used in the NBA is the Wilson Official NBA Game Ball. It is made from 100% genuine leather and is brown in colour. The basketball has official NBA branding coupled with the iconic Wilson script. Wilson was the original manufacturer of the NBA's official game ball, providing the basketballs for the first 37 years of the league before Spalding took over in 1983. In 2021, the NBA switched back to Wilson as its official game ball manufacturer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Wilson |
| Size | 7 |
| Diameter | 29.5" |
| Material | 100% genuine leather |
| Colour | Brown |
| Inflation | 8-8.5 PSI |
| Logo | Wilson and NBA |
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What You'll Learn
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is made from genuine leather
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is made from 100% genuine leather. It is the official ball of the NBA, featuring the world-famous NBA logo and the iconic Wilson script. The ball is brown and is available in size 7, with a circumference of 29.5", which is the official size used in all NBA games.
The genuine leather cover of the Wilson Official NBA Game Ball will initially feel slick and rough to the touch. However, as the ball is used, the leather will loosen up, giving the ball more grip. This break-in period is necessary to get the ball ready for optimal gameplay. The more the ball is played with, the better it will feel. Dribbling drills and shooting repeatedly will help speed up the break-in process, and the ball will darken in color as it becomes ready for game use.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is constructed to meet the world-class standards of the NBA. It is the basketball used by every team and every player in every game. The ball is designed with inflation retention lining, which allows for longer-lasting air retention. Additionally, the new channel construction of the NBA Pro Seams is suited to player preferences.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is a high-quality product, built to meet the demands of competitive basketball at the highest level. The use of genuine leather provides a superior feel and performance, making it a preferred choice for basketball enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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The ball is 29.5 inches in circumference
The official basketball used in the NBA is the Wilson Official NBA Game Ball. This basketball is made from 100% genuine leather and is Size 7, or 29.5 inches in circumference.
The ball is designed to meet the world-class standards of the NBA and is used by every team and player in every game. The leather cover will initially feel slick and rough to the touch, but playing with the basketball will help to break it in, giving the ball more grip. Dribbling drills and shooting repeatedly will help speed up this process, and the ball will darken in colour as it becomes ready for gameplay.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is available to purchase from Amazon and Wilson Sporting Goods. The ball is brown and features official NBA branding, coupled with the iconic Wilson script.
Wilson has a long history with the NBA, having supplied the official game balls for the league's first 37 years. After a 37-year hiatus, Wilson once again became the official supplier of NBA game balls in 2021, replacing Spalding.
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The NBA ball has zero to no raised panels
The NBA official game ball is manufactured by Wilson Sporting Goods. It is made of 100% genuine leather and is brown in colour. The ball has zero to no raised panels, which can make shooting difficult if you are not used to it. However, the lack of raised panels makes it easier to get a grip on the ball.
The leather cover of the ball will initially feel slick and rough to the touch. Playing with the ball will loosen up the leather, giving it more grip. The more you play with it, the better it feels. The ball will also darken in colour as it becomes ready for gameplay.
The NBA ball is Size 7, 29.5 inches, and has an official PSI of 8 to 8.5. It takes months to break in the ball before it can be used in an NBA game. The ball is packaged in an official Wilson box.
Wilson was the original manufacturer of the NBA ball for 37 years after the league's start. In 1983, Spalding took over the contract and was the manufacturer for the next 37 years. In 2021, the NBA switched back to Wilson as the manufacturer of the official game ball.
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The ball requires a break-in period before being game-ready
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is made from 100% genuine leather and is the basketball used by every team and player in every game. The ball is initially slick and rough to the touch, and requires a break-in period before it is game-ready. This is because the ball comes out of the box with its leather cover panels harsh and stiff, and only through repeated use will the leather loosen up and the ball gain more grip.
The break-in process can be accelerated by playing with the ball, as dribbling and shooting drills will help to speed up this process. The more you play with the ball, the better it will feel, and the leather will start to darken in colour as it becomes ready for gameplay. The ball will also become grippier the more it is used, and will provide a more consistent bounce. It can take months for the ball to be fully broken in, but once it is, it will feel far superior to any other ball.
The correct PSI for the official NBA ball is 8 to 8.5, which makes the ball very bouncy. This is another reason why the ball needs to be broken in during practice, as a brand new leather ball will feel very different to one that has been used for some time. The ball will also need to be kept inflated, as it will lose air over time.
The NBA game is 48 minutes long, split into four 12-minute quarters, or halves, and this provides ample time for the ball to be broken in during gameplay.
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Wilson replaced Spalding as the manufacturer of the official NBA ball
The National Basketball Association (NBA) replaced Spalding with Wilson as the official manufacturer of the NBA ball from the 2021-2022 season. The NBA announced that it had reached a multi-year global partnership with the sports equipment company, which is based in Chicago.
Wilson, the new official ball manufacturer, also provides balls for the WNBA, the G League, and the Basketball Africa League. Wilson's basketballs are made from 100% genuine leather, which is initially slick to the touch but gains grip as it is used and breaks in. The balls are brown and are 29.5 inches in diameter, which is the official size used in all NBA games.
Spalding, the previous manufacturer, had supplied balls to the NBA for 37 years. The company was founded in 1876 by Albert Spalding as a baseball manufacturer and is currently headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Spalding has also manufactured balls for other sports, including American football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and golf.
The switch from Spalding to Wilson as the official ball manufacturer of the NBA may have been influenced by a strategic move to repair the league's relationship with China. In 2019, a tweet by Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, in support of Hong Kong citizens protesting the Beijing government, had strained the relationship. The partnership with Wilson, which has a presence in China, may have been a factor in the NBA's decision to end its 30-year partnership with Spalding.
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Frequently asked questions
The official basketball used in the NBA is the Wilson Official NBA Game Ball.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is made of 100% genuine leather.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is a size 7, 29.5" ball.
The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball costs around €230 or $240.
You can buy the Wilson Official NBA Game Ball on Amazon or Wilson's website.
