There’s something new appearing on all NBA courts this season, and it’s got some NBA players complaining loudly. For the first time in 35 years and the second time in 60 seasons, professional basketball is changing the ball. Leather basketballs are out, due to the fact that it was tough to create uniformity and there was a break-in period.
The new ball, according to the NBA, “[will provide] superior grip and feel throughout the course of a game.� The regulation ball is made of a microfiber composite that is designed to handle moisture buildup.
But veteran center Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t see anything positive in the new basketball. The Miami Heat star says, “Feels like one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store, indoor-outdoor balls.â€? He added, “I look for shooting percentages to be way down and turnovers to be way up, because when the ball gets wet you can’t really control it. Whoever did that needs to be fired. It was terrible, a terrible decision. Awful. I might get fined for saying that, but so what?”
There will definitely be a period of adjustment for players.
Heat guard, Dwayne Wade reports that players are concerned about grip and slippage when the ball gets wet from perspiration.
The prolific shooter said, “Hopefully over time, you’ll hear nothing about it and we’ll all stop complaining. But I think rebounds are going to go up this year. All around the league, I think there’s going to be a lot of bricks thrown up there early on.”
So, who’s right? Is it the NBA that claims the 21st century microfiber ball will aid inn controlling moisture buildup, increasing secure grips around the league? Or is it the players, who feel that the advancement in basketball technology is a boondoggle?
One thing is for certain, if the new ball proves to have an adverse affect on shooting percentages, it won’t stay around very long. Perhaps by mid-season at your local NBA franchise store you’ll see, “Closeout Sale! Prices Slashed on ALL Microfiber Balls!�
Technorati Tags: Shaquille O’Neail, Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat, NBA
