Ayrton Oneill
Basketballs are made from a variety of materials, including leather, rubber, or synthetic composite. The official NBA basketball is made from leather sourced from the Horween Leather Company in Chicago, which is then coloured, preserved, tanned, stamped, painted, dried, graded, trimmed, packaged, and shipped to China for cutting and sewing. The NBA game ball was manufactured by Spalding from 1983 to 2021, when Wilson took over.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official ball of the NBA | Spalding (1983-2021), Wilson (2021 onwards) |
| Primary material | Synthetic rubber, leather |
| Inner bladder | Made from rubber or latex |
| Outer panels | Glued and stitched with strong, durable thread |
| Vulcanization | Panels are heated in a pressurized mold to bond them to the bladder |
| Inflation | Balls are inflated and manually checked |
| Weight | Rigorous quality control tests |
| Bounce | Minimum rebound of 52 inches |
| Consistency | Each ball is rebounded at 20 miles per hour, 50 times |
| Grip | Microfiber covers and updated pebbling patterns |
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What You'll Learn
Basketballs are made from leather, rubber or synthetic composite
Basketballs are made from a variety of materials, including leather, rubber, or synthetic composite. Leather basketballs are the traditional option, with the NBA still using leather basketballs with natural rubber bladders. However, the league has also experimented with synthetic materials, and many high school and NCAA programmes have already made the switch to synthetic basketballs.
Leather basketballs are considered the best balls available and are used in the NBA and WNBA. They develop a "broken-in" feel after repeated use and are typically used for indoor courts only. Leather balls are also the most expensive type of basketball to purchase due to the material. The process of making a leather basketball is both a science and an art, with companies like Wilson partnering with Horween Leather Co. to create the official all-leather NBA basketball. The leather goes through a rigorous process of sorting, colouring, tanning, stamping, painting, and drying before being graded, trimmed, packaged, and shipped for cutting and sewing.
Rubber basketballs are another option and are known for their durability and toughness, making them ideal for outdoor courts. However, they lack the grip and softness of leather or synthetic balls. Rubber is also used as the internal bladder for leather basketballs, as it needs to retain certain air pressure standards.
Synthetic composite basketballs are made from materials like microfiber plastic leather or synthetic fibres and resins. These balls are designed to replicate the look and feel of genuine leather while offering a softer grip and more consistent performance. They are also more affordable and address sustainability issues associated with using animal hides. Composite basketballs are perfect for multi-surface use and do not require the same break-in period as leather balls, making them immediately ready for gameplay.
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The NBA game ball is made from Horween leather
The NBA game ball has undergone several design changes since its early days, but one thing that has remained consistent is the use of leather. The official NBA game ball is currently made from Horween leather, sourced exclusively from the Horween Leather Company in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Horween Leather Company is one of the oldest leather tanneries in the United States, dating back to 1905. They receive around 3,000 cowhides each week, which undergo a meticulous three-week process to transform them into the premium leather used for NBA basketballs. This process involves sorting the leather pieces by the clarity of their grain, as well as their thickness and size. The selected pieces are then coloured and placed into tanning drums for preservation and tanning.
The leather is then stamped with a 1,000-ton press, using German-made embossing plates that create the distinctive pebbling pattern unique to NBA basketballs. This pebbling enhances the grip and control of the ball. Following this, the leather is painted with lighter coats to achieve the desired colour, durability, and feel. It then undergoes a double drying process before a final inspection is conducted.
After the leather passes the final check, it is graded, trimmed, and packaged. The leather is then shipped to China for the final stages of cutting and sewing, transforming it into the official NBA game ball. This ball is not just a piece of sports equipment; it represents the rich history and continuous evolution of the sport of basketball.
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Spalding was the NBA's official ball supplier from 1983-2021
Basketballs are inflatable and made from leather, rubber, or synthetic composite. They come in different sizes depending on the age group of the players. The traditional colour scheme of a basketball is brownish with an orange surface, black ribs, and a logo.
Spalding, an American sports equipment manufacturing company, was the official supplier of basketballs to the NBA from 1983 to 2021. The company was founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago in 1876 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.
Spalding's association with basketball began in 1894 when James Naismith, a physical education teacher, asked A.G. Spalding & Bros. to create a ball for basketball games. The company came up with a leather ball held together with laces. Over the years, Spalding continued to innovate and improve the design of basketballs. In 2001, they introduced a basketball with a built-in pump, and in 2006, they updated the ball's design from eight panels to two interlocking panels.
However, the switch from leather to synthetic basketballs in 2006 was met with backlash from players, who complained about the ball becoming slick, bouncing awkwardly, and cutting their fingers. As a result, the NBA reverted to the old leather balls with the eight-panel pattern. Despite this setback, Spalding continued as the NBA's official ball supplier until 2021 when the league announced it was switching to the Wilson brand. Wilson, which had supplied game balls during the league's first 37 years, sources its leather from the same Chicago tannery that supplied leather for Spalding's basketballs.
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The NBA's balls are now manufactured by Wilson
The NBA's official game balls are now manufactured by Wilson, which also supplies the basketballs for the G League, the WNBA, and the Basketball Africa League. Wilson had previously been the NBA's official ball manufacturer for the league's first 37 years before Spalding took over the contract in 1983. The NBA's decision to switch back to Wilson for the 2021-22 season was likely influenced by the company's connection to China, which is crucial to the league's long-term growth strategy.
Wilson's NBA official game ball is made in partnership with the Horween Leather Company, a Chicago-based tannery that also supplied leather for Spalding's basketballs. The leather goes through a rigorous process, including sorting, colouring, tanning, embossing, painting, and drying. Wilson's balls are notable for their brand-chosen shade of orange, which is baked into the Horween process, and the raised pebbles that tend to flatten with use.
The NBA ball consists of four key components: an internal bladder, a winding layer, a rubber carcass, and a leather topcoat. The winding layer is covered by a two-part carcass mould, which goes through a vulcanization process where hot rubber flows into the winding to give additional structure to the ball. The leather used in the NBA balls is full-grain pebbled leather, featuring the iconic NBA and Wilson logos.
Wilson worked closely with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to develop and approve the new game ball through team evaluation sessions. NBA players Trae Young and Jamal Murray were the first official Wilson Advisory Staff members, providing testing, feedback, and collaboration on Wilson basketball products. Wilson's return as the NBA's official ball manufacturer is a significant development, as professional leagues in the US rarely change the supplier of their core equipment.
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Spalding is an American sports equipment manufacturing company
Spalding, an American sports equipment manufacturing company, was founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago in 1876 as a baseball manufacturer. Headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the company has since diversified into manufacturing balls for softball, American football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and golf. Spalding also manufactured the official game pucks for the National Hockey League from the early 1930s to the mid-1940s.
Spalding's association with basketball dates back to the late 19th century when the company introduced its first basketball in 1894, based on the design of a baseball. A.G. Spalding, a former baseball player, was approached by Dr. James Naismith, the creator of basketball, to develop the world's first basketball. Spalding's commitment to innovation in basketball design has been evident through the introduction of the first basketball with a moulded cork centre and the first basketball specifically for indoor use.
The company became the official game ball supplier to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1983, a position it held until 2021. During this period, Spalding collaborated with the NBA to create a new official game ball for the 2006-07 season, made with synthetic leather instead of genuine leather. This ball, however, received criticism from players for its slickness, reduced bounce, and awkward behaviour off the rim and backboard.
Spalding has also been a pioneer in other sports equipment, including the development of the first American football with a guarantee of perfect material and workmanship, the first liquid centre golf ball (Kros-Flite), and the first American volleyball. In the 1980s, the company briefly ventured into designing aftermarket automotive wheels. Today, Spalding continues to be a leading producer of basketballs and other sports equipment, with a strong presence in the sports industry.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA ball is made by Wilson, which served as the ball maker for the first 37 years of the NBA. Spalding was the official supplier of basketballs to the NBA from 1983 until 2020/2021 when Wilson took over again.
The NBA ball is made from leather, with an internal bladder, a winding layer, a rubber carcass, and a leather topcoat.
The leather pieces are sorted by how clear the grain is, and the thickness and size of the piece. The chosen leather pieces are then coloured. They are put into tanning drums where the leather is preserved and tanned. The leather is stamped with a press to give the ball its distinct pebbling. The embossed leather is painted in lighter coats for a combination of colour, durability and feel. The leather then goes through a double drying process. A final check is conducted. The leather is graded, trimmed, and then packaged and shipped to China for cutting and sewing.
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