04/18/24
June 28, 2006
NBA introduces a new basketball : the first change in more than 35 years! (but it's still orange, don't worry.)
posted by jojomfd1 to basketball at 02:59 PM - 32 comments
It's gonna be juiced to increase the number of homeruns.
posted by disengagelfe at 03:55 PM on June 28, 2006
Nice first comment disengaged, I think you just hit the homer. Way to start it all off here.
posted by jojomfd1 at 04:17 PM on June 28, 2006
I would have loved a red, white & blue model, but I guess that would have been too much to ask. I'm sure they'll sell a ton of 'em.
posted by chicobangs at 04:17 PM on June 28, 2006
Here is another article about the new ball. That would have been one hell of an idea chico, maybe they'll do something like that for the all star game, or the finals.
posted by jojomfd1 at 04:25 PM on June 28, 2006
chico, isn't that the old ABA ball you're talking about?
posted by ninjavshippo at 04:37 PM on June 28, 2006
Exactly.
posted by chicobangs at 04:41 PM on June 28, 2006
The ball will hit store shelves at major sporting goods outlets on October 31 coinciding with the tip-off of the 2006-07 season. A limited number of new balls will be available today at the world’s only NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Fans can also pre-order their new ball online at NBAStore.com for delivery at the start of the 2006-07 season. With all of the kids off school for summer, I can't believe that they have to wait until October to get one of these. Is it going to be called the basketball 360?
posted by jojomfd1 at 04:41 PM on June 28, 2006
Thanks ninja, now I have the globe trotters song stuck in my head.
posted by jojomfd1 at 04:42 PM on June 28, 2006
Yeah, the r,w&b ball was cool, but I seriously doubt the NBA will ever go that way -- the orange color of the ball is so iconic that I think it would be a big mistake to change. When you see a representation of an orange ball, you immediately think basketball. That's a strong image. It's amazing that, even considering all ofthe advancements and innovations in sneakers, basketball has probably been least influenced by technology throughout its history than almost any other sport. I would guess that simplicity is part of its appeal.
posted by BullpenPro at 04:48 PM on June 28, 2006
I'm ambivalent (at least I think I am--I'm not sure) about whether or not I'll buy the basketball--but I would REALLY like to buy one of those black boxes.
posted by curtangle at 05:13 PM on June 28, 2006
I remember all the "let's use"/"don't dare use" the r,w,&b ball discussion when the ABA folded (as the four teams joined the NBA.) Most of it centered on the differnt "feel" of the ABA ball. But, if I remember correctly, didn't someone with the ABA keep the copyright to the red, white, and blue ball?
posted by ?! at 06:15 PM on June 28, 2006
Why don't they make the whole ball out of the black box?
posted by yerfatma at 06:44 PM on June 28, 2006
Only two interlocking panels, so it can't be three colors. Maybe they could make it orange and white like the WNBA. Ummm, a new basketball. This is apparently David Stern's idea of improving the league. If he was running baseball, they would probably use yellow glow in the dark ones. Why can't they just leave some traditions alone?
posted by graymatters at 06:53 PM on June 28, 2006
What the players have to say post on NBA site. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Or toilet paper.
posted by graymatters at 07:06 PM on June 28, 2006
I wonder where truehoop got their info that the players didn't like the ball. The AP article and the one graymatters linked to gives the impression they like it. Even though most of the guys from the second are retired, there were still a couple of current players in there.
posted by jojomfd1 at 08:57 PM on June 28, 2006
Gosh..., does this mean the Knicks will be better??
posted by sports1 at 10:11 PM on June 28, 2006
As a basketball player and spectator, I have always found multi-coloured basketballs both distracting to shoot and watch. Many times you can catch the ball on the seams and shoot it so that the colours blend together, but sometimes it doesn't work that way, so the ball looks like a kaledioscope in mid-flight. I know that sounds really irrational, but multi-coloured balls just don't look or feel right when you play with them.
posted by smithers at 11:37 PM on June 28, 2006
i know if you buy a nice leather ball its only used indoors. is that the case for the new ball? could i get one of these and use it on the blacktop?
posted by travisl212 at 12:06 AM on June 29, 2006
Wow! It's hard to believe that the NBA has changed the ball so few times. This is a really big deal! As an aside, it was interesting working at NBA 3on3 a few weekends ago ... games could NOT be played, under any circumstances, with non-Spalding balls. Spalding pays big bucks to be a part of the NBA ... and they are true to their sponsor. Guess I'll never see another Wilson Jet again :-( p.s. Smithers, you're s'posed to look at the target (rim) when you shoot, not the ball!!! ;)
posted by Spitztengle at 12:17 AM on June 29, 2006
The rim isn't my target spitztengle, it's the big hole in the middle of it.....maybe that's what's been wrong with your jumper all these years!! ;)
posted by smithers at 08:15 AM on June 29, 2006
The Spalding "Crackgeist" ball. The only thing that really sucks about this is I just finished buying a new ball.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 10:06 AM on June 29, 2006
What I wanna know is, can Rick Barry and Dr J use it? 
posted by yerfatma at 10:17 AM on June 29, 2006
yerfatma: that is SO awesome....
posted by smithers at 11:34 AM on June 29, 2006
I hope they give the players plenty of the new balls to practice with during the short offseason. With the changes, I wonder if it will bounce a little different (both on floor, backboard and rim), will roll off fingers during shots a little different, etc. Seams are different, but also "more grip." That's got to change the way the shot feels coming off your fingers.
posted by graymatters at 12:00 PM on June 29, 2006
that is SO awesome.... Don't thank me, thank the marketing folks at Spalding in the 70s. I think that ad appeared in every Marvel comic from 1971-1979, inclusive. It's seared into my brain.
posted by yerfatma at 12:19 PM on June 29, 2006
Yeah, pretty much every comic book I owned had that on the back cover. Way to go, yerfatma.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 02:56 PM on June 29, 2006
It belonged on works of fiction only because it shows Rick Barry interacting with children.
posted by yerfatma at 03:20 PM on June 29, 2006
jojomfd1, I'll just go out on a limb and say, it would be "unpopular" for a player to come out criticizing a new product used for in-game purposes when it is made by one of the games biggest sponsors. That and these new balls have yet to be used in official games yet. Dribbling 8 - 10 new balls to test for consistent feel isn't quite the same as using a range of them over summer league, training camp, practices, and an 82 game schedule. Lets call it even and say that there is no consensus. :)
posted by lilnemo at 05:44 PM on June 29, 2006
I was not trying to be an ass nemo, I was just wondering. I went to the site and looked around there for a while to see if I could find it myself. Then I found the other article, and the other one got posted, I was just asking a question, and would have been interested to see the difference in opinion just like when the soccer ball came out. Thats all.
posted by jojomfd1 at 08:16 PM on June 29, 2006
I was not trying to be an ass nemo, I was just wondering. Where did I call you an ass? I made a guess based on the link I provided, which you had questioned. Thats it. Christ, I even appended a fucking smiley.
posted by lilnemo at 06:13 PM on June 30, 2006
i hear these new basketballs will give the knicks 15 extra wins next season. WAR MALIK ROSE 2006-2007 mvp
posted by dmontez1392 at 11:35 AM on July 01, 2006
Truehoop had this nailed. Henry says the pros don't like it. I can see why. There may be more grip, but the seams are going to take some getting used to.