Are NBA balls heavy?
7.4 For all men's competitions in all categories, …the ball shall weigh no less than 567 g and no more than 650 g. 7.5 For all women's competitions in all categories, … the ball shall weigh no less than 510 g and no more than 567 g.
Size 7 basketballs measure 29.5” in circumference and have a standard weight of 22 oz.
The official size of the basketball used by the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference. That's the same size used throughout men's college and high school basketball leagues.
The Wilson NBA official game ball is comprised of the same materials, eight-panel configuration and performance specifications as the league's current game balls and sources the same leather currently used in the NBA.
As mentioned, there are already standard or official basketball sizes and basketball weights. A size 7 is the one used in the NBA and men's NCAA. It is usually 22 ounces in weight, 29.5 inches in circumference, with air pressure between 7.5 to 8.5 psi.
Spalding became the official ball of the NBA in 1983. Made from the finest full grain leather and meeting the most stringent quality and performance standards, the NBA Game Ball is embedded in the sport as much as Michael Jordan or LeBron James.
According to the Spalding website, an official NBA game ball costs $169.99. The Spalding website advertises the following features of their NBA game basketballs: Official NBA size and weight: Size 7, 29.5″ Full-grain Horween leather cover.
An NBA regulation ball is inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 psi. By regulating a basketball's air pressure, the NBA can ensure fair playing conditions. As this activity illustrated, the ball's internal air pressure determines how it bounces.
The NSGA release noted that the shiny new Wilson basketball is the official game ball for both the men's and women's tournaments and the NIT.
But Spalding's sponsorship contract with the NBA expires after this 2020-21 season, and they were unable to agree on terms for a new deal. Spalding will continue to produce the official NBA backboards and rims, plus a full line of other basketballs, including the TF-1000 and my personal outdoor favorite, the Neverflat.
Do NBA balls get reused?
If the balls are kept in excellent condition, they will just be reused. Here are some of the league's stringent ball review processes, making sure that each game ball adheres to the standards: All 30 teams are sent 72 game balls at the beginning of the season.
“The biggest thing is to get the balls broken in and get the players comfortable with the ball, and it's the first time in 37 years that an NBA team is starting a season with new balls that they have to break in,” Murphy said.
No Stripes On NFL Footballs? But Why? (Why Are There ... - YouTube
As for the football used: In overall circumference, college footballs can be up to 1-1/4 inches smaller than NFL footballs. To get more detailed, the circumference of a college football ranges from 20-3/4 inches to 21-1/4 inches lengthwise from end to end, vs. the 21 inches to 21-1/4 inches in the NFL.
Though the distances differ between all levels of basketball, the 3-point line is universal. The NBA has a 22-foot 3-point line in the corners and a 23-foot, 9-inch line elsewhere. The WNBA and the international game plays with a 20-foot, 6-inch line.
Once you pump extra air into the ball, packing the air more tightly than normal and stiffening the ball's surface, that additional air will appear on the scale's weight measurement. A properly inflated basketball has about 0.01 pounds of extra air in it, so it'll weigh an extra 0.01 pounds on a scale.
An inflated balloon is heavier than a deflated one because air has mass.
The new basketball optimizes weight distribution, making it easier to shoot from long-range. But why the orange color? According to Wilson, the new "Electric Orange" color in the Evo NXT allows players and fans to easily track the ball on the court, making it less likely to lose sight of the ball in darker settings.
Wilson was the official maker of the NBA basketball for the first 37 years of the league before Spalding took over for the next 37. As Spalding failed to renew their contract, Wilson takes over ball-making duties once again.

Wilson, who manufactured the basketballs for the league from 1946 until 1983, replaced Spalding as the official supplier for the NBA at the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
Is Wilson or Spalding better?
When it comes to how the ball feels in the hand; how slippery or firm it is, then the Spalding basketball is the better choice. The reason why the Spalding outshines Wilson in terms of feel is the premium genuine leather used in its construction.
Rank | Team | Median Resale Ticket Price |
---|---|---|
1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | $42.00 |
2 | Indiana Pacers | $55.00 |
3 | Dallas Mavericks | $52.00 |
4 | Memphis Grizzlies | $55.00 |
Spalding was the official ball supplier to the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1983 to 2021, when the league reunited with Wilson after 37 years away by signing a new contract with that company.
- Mikasa BX1000.
- Spalding NBA Street.
- Spalding NBA Hexagrip.
- Spalding NBA Street Phantom.
- Under Armour 495.
NBA recommends that the air pressure in a basketball must be between 7.5 and 8.5psi. You can use this standard measurement as a guide to get the required air pressure for your basketball.
Basketballs need to be inflated with air to bounce, so when it is flat it doesn't bounce. When it is properly inflated, it will bounce again and you can play basketball with your friends and family once more. To inflate a basketball, you will need the following: Hand pump with an inflation needle (basketball air pump)
NBA rules dictate that basketballs should be inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. If the basketball is inflated below this level, it won't bounce correctly. If it is inflated above this level, the basketball could be damaged or burst.
Officially named “The Official Basketball of NCAA March Madness,” the Evo NXT comes in Electric Orange, so hoopers don't lose sight of the ball in low-light condition. Dave White, Wilson's Director of Sales, set the record straight on Wednesday.
Most schools ignore preference and stick with their affiliated brands. Among power-conference teams, 41 use Nike, by far the leader. The NCAA uses a Wilson ball during the NCAA tournament, so nine power-conference schools use Wilson throughout the season.
When you're playing in your conference and you play with a Nike and Adidas ball, which is – mostly the Big Ten is Nike and Adidas – and you come to a tournament and play with a different ball, it can affect you in some ways.”
Are NBA game balls broken in?
“The biggest thing is to get the balls broken in and get the players comfortable with the ball, and it's the first time in 37 years that an NBA team is starting a season with new balls that they have to break in,” Murphy said.
But Spalding's sponsorship contract with the NBA expires after this 2020-21 season, and they were unable to agree on terms for a new deal. Spalding will continue to produce the official NBA backboards and rims, plus a full line of other basketballs, including the TF-1000 and my personal outdoor favorite, the Neverflat.
What happened? An NBA regulation ball is inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 psi. By regulating a basketball's air pressure, the NBA can ensure fair playing conditions. As this activity illustrated, the ball's internal air pressure determines how it bounces.
If the balls are kept in excellent condition, they will just be reused. Here are some of the league's stringent ball review processes, making sure that each game ball adheres to the standards: All 30 teams are sent 72 game balls at the beginning of the season.
According to the Spalding website, an official NBA game ball costs $169.99. The Spalding website advertises the following features of their NBA game basketballs: Official NBA size and weight: Size 7, 29.5″ Full-grain Horween leather cover.
WHY CAN'T YOU KEEP AN NBA BASKETBALL THAT GOES INTO ...
Wilson was the official maker of the NBA basketball for the first 37 years of the league before Spalding took over for the next 37. As Spalding failed to renew their contract, Wilson takes over ball-making duties once again.
When it comes to how the ball feels in the hand; how slippery or firm it is, then the Spalding basketball is the better choice. The reason why the Spalding outshines Wilson in terms of feel is the premium genuine leather used in its construction.
As follow up to your question, the new NBA game ball from Spalding's circumference is 29.5.
Best Overall: Spalding NeverFlat Elite Indoor-Outdoor Basketball. We chose this basketball as our top choice because it's a durable and versatile ball that can go from blacktop games to indoor courts.