NBA Is Making Rare Change In Equipment For 2021-22 Season

The NBA will make a change, and this time it’s associated with the equipment players use on the floor. In the past 75 years, the league has changed the basketball only four times. In 2006, they started using synthetic balls instead of leather one. Players didn’t like that at all, and they all went back to the leather balls. This time, the NBA will change the balls, and players will be able to use the new ones in 2021-22.

Wilson is taking over as the NBA’s official ball manufacturer. Spalding is the current manufacturer, but that will change in 2021.

“The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Wilson Sporting Goods Co. announced a multiyear global partnership today that will make Wilson the official game ball of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League (BAL). 

The partnership will tip off at different times by league. The NBA Wilson game ball will first be used during the league’s 75th anniversary season in 2021-22. The other debuts will be during the 2022 WNBA season, 2021-22 NBA G League season, 2021 NBA 2K League season and the inaugural BAL season.

“This partnership with Wilson returns us to our roots as we plan for the future,” said Salvatore LaRocca, NBA President, Global Partnerships. “We were partners for 37 seasons dating back to when Wilson manufactured the first official NBA basketballs in 1946, and we look forward to growing the game of basketball together.”

The NBA will have different balls in 2021-22

Kevin Murphy, General Manager, Wilson Basketball, explained that their commitment to “growing the game of basketball on the global stage” is their main priority. They have a big passion for the game, and history confirms that.

“Wilson will manufacture the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League game balls using the same materials, eight-panel configuration and performance specifications as current game balls and will also source the same leather currently used in the NBA. The NBA and its players will work jointly with Wilson to develop and approve the new game ball.”

Wilson will have to stick to the same leather and specifications. Different conferences use different balls, and let’s not forget that Lonzo Ball shot better with Wilson’s composite balls.