What Basketball Does the NBA Use?
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It’s a common question for basketball fans: what kind of ball does the NBA use? The answer is that the NBA uses a Spalding basketball, which is specifically made for the league.
Spalding
The official basketball of the NBA is the Spalding basketball. It is also the official basketball of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and FIBA. The Spalding basketball was first used in the NBA in 1983.
Indoor/outdoor
Basketballs come in three main categories: indoor, outdoor, and street. It’s important to choose the right type of basketball for your playing surface. Indoor basketballs are designed for use on polished wood or synthetic floors. Outdoor basketballs can be used on a variety of surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, and brick. Street basketballs are made to stand up to the wear and tear of concrete and asphalt.
Indoor/outdoor basketballs are versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces. They have a rubber or composite leather cover that is durable and easy to grip. TheButyl bladder helps maintain air pressure and shape.
Outdoor basketballs are made to withstand tough outdoor surfaces like concrete and asphalt. They have a rugged rubber or composite leather cover that is durable and easy to grip. TheButyl bladder helps maintain air pressure and shape.
Street basketballs are made to stand up to the wear and tear of concrete and asphalt. They have a reinforced rubber or composite leather cover that is durable and easy to grip. TheButyl bladder helps maintain air pressure and shape
Official size
The official size of a basketball used by the National Basketball Association is 29.5 inches in circumference. The fibers that make up the ball’s cover are wound tightly together and the ball is wrapped in rubber or a synthetic composite material. It has an inflated diameter of between 9.43 and 9.51 inches, and it weighs between 20 and 22 ounces.
Weight
The NBA regular season ball is between 22 and 23 ounces, depending on the producer. The game ball is slightly larger and heavier than a street basketball, so players can get a better grip on the ball when playing. The size and weight of a basketball also affects how well it bounces.
Wilson
Indoor/outdoor
There are two types of basketballs that are commonly used in the NBA – indoor and outdoor. The outdoor basketball is slightly larger and heavier than the indoor basketball, and it also has a different texture. The outdoor ball is designed to be used on concrete or asphalt surfaces, while the indoor ball is designed for use on wood floors.
Official size
The Wilson is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association. It has a circumference of 30 inches (76 cm) and a weight of 22 ounces (620 grams). It has an indoor/outdoor rubber cover and is made in the Philippines.
Weight
The Wilson basketball is the official ball of the NBA. It is also used in many high-level college and international competitions. The Wilson basketball is made of 100% leather and has a very distinctive feel. It is often said that the Wilson basketball simply feels “better” when compared to other basketballs.
The size 7 Wilson basketball weighs 22 ounces, while the size 6 ball weighs 20 ounces. For comparison, the Spalding NBA official game ball (used in the Women’s NBA) weighs 16 ounces.
Under Armour
The NBA has used the same basketball for over 35 years. It is made by Spalding and it is called the NBA Official Game Ball. The ball is made of leather and it has a diameter of 9.4 inches.
Indoor/outdoor
Indoor/outdoor basketballs are the most versatile type of ball and can be used on any type of court surface. The main difference between indoor and outdoor balls is the material the cover is made from. Indoor basketballs typically have a rubber cover for better grip, while outdoor basketballs have a synthetic cover that can withstand rougher conditions.
Official size
The official size of a basketball for the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference. This is also the size of ball that is used in NCAA Division I men’s basketball and in most high schools around the United States. In international competition, such as the Olympics, a slightly smaller ball is used. The official size for an Olympic basketball is 28.5 inches in circumference.
A standard basketball hoop will have a diameter of 18 inches. The inner diameter of the backboard will be 6 feet wide and 3.5 feet tall. The backboard will be made out of tempered glass, fiberglass or acrylic material.
Weight
During the 2005-06 season, the average NBA game ball weighed 22 ounces and had a circumference of 29.5 inches. By comparison, a women’s regulation size basketball is 28.5 inches in circumference and weigh 22 ounces. In 2006, the NBA Research Department looked at how weight impacted shooting percentage and found that there was no significant difference between the two weights. The current ball has been used since the 2006-07 season.
