As the manufacturer of the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has once again proven itself to be one of the most innovative brands in sports and has dared to do what no other basketball manufacturer has dared to do before.
The prototype of the 3D-printed airless basketball was unveiled Saturday night during the first round of the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest by KJ Martin, a player for the Houston Rockets.
“We are very proud to present the Wilson 3D Airless Prototype Basketball as a tangible manifestation of our ongoing commitment to innovation in sports,” said Kevin Murphy, General Manager of Team Sports at Wilson.
“This is just one example of how our team approaches the game and why we are the world’s No. 1 basketball manufacturer today.”
The new 3D ball—the first of its kind—is fully playable and meets nearly all the performance specifications of a standard basketball, including weight, size, and bounce. However, the ball does not need to be inflated, as it consists of a black, transparent mesh with eight panel-like “flaps.”
While the 3D Airless Prototype Basketball demonstrates Wilson and the NBA’s shared commitment to innovation, there will be no changes to Wilson’s official NBA game ball, which will continue to be made from the same leather materials.
The eight-panel configuration and current performance specifications will also remain unchanged.
“This is my first time participating in the NBA All-Star festivities, and to do so alongside Wilson in such a memorable way on the big stage here in Utah is truly special,” said Martin.
“The game continues to evolve with each generation of players, and having a brand partner that consistently sets new standards through innovation is incredibly important for the future of basketball.”
The Wilson Labs team developed the design for the 3D Airless Prototype Basketball at the brand’s Innovation Center in Chicago before bringing it to life in collaboration with key partners.
General Lattice provided computer-aided design services, DyeMansion supplied color and finishing solutions, and EOS handled additive manufacturing from its technical center, which is connected to AT&T’s high-speed fiber-optic network.
About Wilson:
Wilson Sporting Goods Co., headquartered in Chicago, USA, is a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation. The company is the world’s leading manufacturer of equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories for competitive sports. It has a history spanning more than a century of innovation, heritage, and tradition across many sports, including racquet sports, baseball, softball, American football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and golf.
In basketball, Wilson is the official ball supplier for the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), March Madness and the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Basketball Champions League (BCL), the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and FIBA 3x3.
Photos via Wilson - (c) Wilson, Getty Images
