NBA developing 2 panel ball?

[BubbaTee]

I don't know about you guys, but I loved the 2-panel design on the composite ball. If they used the same thing with leather, it seems like it would be pretty much the ultimate ball.

It's not like a 2-panel ball would have 2 perfect hemispherical panels. It wouldn't be any "harder to palm" or much different to use. It would look cooler and feel a bit better. They've got money, why not?

If they were interested in looking cooler they'd go back to the ABA red-white-blue balls.

[BarneyGumble]

So dumb. I've never heard one NBA player complain about the ball. Why are they changing it?

So Spalding can sell more basketballs. The NBA doesn't really care about the game. They care about $$$.

I agree this is the real reason. The NBA is a bad product. Its getting dangerously close to becoming like WWF Wrestling or Pro Boxing. I wish they would just focus on the game and not all the sideshow $$$-related distractions....

[ponder276]

a) Haven't they learned their lesson?
b) With that being said, I'm sure they wouldn't go with a baseball-style 2-panel, they'd go with something like this:

[studcrackers]

the olympics used the fiba type ball right? just watching the olympics that ball was one of the few things i hated about watching the games. it just didnt seem to bounce right, seemed a tad more difficult to hit shots

[wetsthebed]

They'll spend a ton of money and effort redesigning the ball, putting it into play then changing it a month into the season when they realize what a dumb idea it was.

[Yadadimean]

[Heyvoon24]

They need to just leave the **** ball alone and address the real issues of the league.

[Egg Nog]

a) Haven't they learned their lesson?
b) With that being said, I'm sure they wouldn't go with a baseball-style 2-panel, they'd go with something like this: (image)

I really hope nobody thinks they're making a ball from 2 perfect hemispherical panels