Beginning in the 2021-22 season, NBA players won't be dribbling Spalding basketballs for the first time in decades.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the NBA's contract with Spalding is expiring, and the league has struck a deal with Wilson to manufacture its game balls going forward.
Spalding and the NBA, who have been in partnership since 1983, reportedly mutually agreed to part ways. Prior to Spalding, Wilson was the league's original ball supplier for 37 years.
In the wake of the said split, Spalding released a statement through the company's Twitter account.
“Today it was announced that Spalding's partnership with the National Basketball Association will conclude following the 2020-21 NBA season.
“Spalding developed the first basketball in 1894, nearly a century before tipping off a historic partnership with the NBA. We are proud of our nearly four-decade relationship.
Moving forward, Spalding will remain as deeply embedded in the game of basketball as we were the day we helped start it. As the global leader in basketball equipment, our passion for the sport will continue to drive our innovative products and everlasting bond with players and fans around the world.”
As part of the new deal, Wilson will provide the official game balls for the WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League.
The leather and product specifications won't change with the new ball. The league and NBPA will create an advisory board to collaborate with Wilson on the new game balls.
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