NBA, also known as the National Basketball Association, is one of the most famous sports leagues in the entire world. It is the most popular sports league in the USA and its neighboring nation of Canada. In this, about 30 teams play the tournament, to win the championship. Its history goes back many decades as it started around 1947. Out of the 30 teams that play in the tournament, 1 belongs to Canada. The usual season of the NBA runs from October to April. The knockout matches go across June or July usually. Although the league had been in place for many decades, it only gained popularity after the 1980s. The league, having so many teams, handles over 80 matches per team.
Some of the most famous teams of the tournament include the famous New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, etc.
The headquarters of the National Basketball Association is in New York City, which is also the place of origin of the tournament. Despite having a tough competition, some teams have won about 17 titles each. The first is the Boston Celtics and the second is the Los Angeles Lakers. The latter is also the current titleholder. Let’s move forward to know more about the basketball used in gameplay.
What Size Basketball Does the NBA Use?
If you watch NBA or have ever seen it, you know Spalding is the official partner of NBA for basketball manufacturing. It is also one of the most popular basketball manufactures across the entire globe. Several sizes are available for Spalding basketball. There is a size 3, size 5, size 6, size 7, etc.
For the national basketball league of women, the size 6 is standard. They also suited it for children around the age of 12. The size 3 ball is appropriate for any age group and is brought in practice sessions and long-range shots. For kids younger than 10 and older than 5, the basketball recommended is of size 5. This of course depends on the size and capacity of a child, but that is the trend.
For the official professional matches of the NBA, the size 7 ball is brought into use. Before bringing in the game, the basketball goes through several tests of all requirements. The basketball has to be of a specific weight category, size, and circumference. It is also the recommended ball for people above the age of 13 or 14 who want to play basketball. The circumference of this ball is 29.5 inches. In centimeters, it spans 75 cm. Preferably used by males because of the size, this ball should weigh appropriately to bring in a professional game. This is the rule to ensure fair play and equal chances for all teams and players. Having a standard size and weight of a ball helps in eliminating undue advantage for someone. Spalding has been the official partner of the NBA in manufacturing basketballs for many decades. The first time they partnered was in 1983. Gradually, the popularity of Spalding game balls also rocketed. They cover the basketballs using leather to ensure that players can grip them better and throw easily.
