Stern To Reveal Big Surprise On Draft Night (A new ball?)

[kolko]

What's in the black box? Only David Stern knows for sure.

But until then, everyone else is likely to speculate that the NBA is unveiling a new official ball that will replace the current one in the NBA.

A news article on NBA.com reads:

"On June 28, NBA Commissioner David Stern will introduce the NBA's newest employees, as he announces the Class of 2006. Before that, however, he will unveil the contents of the black box below -- sure to change the way you see the game. Check back Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET to see what's in the black box."


http://www.nba.com/news/blackbox_060628.html

http://www.nba.com/media/blackbox_closed_060626.jpg

[ShoogarBear]

"30 Strong"

[Phil Hellmuth]

Pat RIley should sue

[Crookshanks]

Actually, it's the new rule book that states "Absolutely no defense can be played against perimeter players. They must have a clear path to the basket every time they get the ball." :lol

[DarkReign]

Actually, it's the new rule book that states "Absolutely no defense can be played against perimeter players. They must have a clear path to the basket every time they get the ball."

I removed the "lol". Fixed.

[Bob Lanier]

http://www.nba.com/media/blackbox_closed_060626.jpgYou have got to be kidding me.

[CubanMustGo]

Is Michael Jordan going to jump out of the box?

[ShoogarBear]

I bet it's a new logo.

Rumor is, they've chosen Brent Barry for it:

http://www.nba.com/media/barry_lego_200_050104.jpg

[Shank]

Bennett Salvatore's decapitated head, snakes included ala "Clash of the Titans".

[greywheel]

It's the disembodied head of Mark Cuban signifying the new era of "No more whining". :lol

Edit: Dang it, Shank beat me because I went and checked the spelling of disembodied. Still I am amazed that I spelled it correctly.

[lil'mo]

:lmao

[Mixability]

a robot ref?

please oh please? :lol

[ChumpDumper]

It's a Kaman-sized cup.

http://www.fitbuy.com/images/cn1411h.jpg

[jman3000]

they're gonna use a football now instead of a basketball?

[Pistons < Spurs]

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8104/cubanator8vj.jpg

[resistanze]

"30 Strong"

:lol

[Rip-Hamilton32]

the logo for the new l.a team!

[J.T.]

Official jersey for the new Las Vegas Referees team.

[DirkAB]

Cuban's nuts in a jar?

[Kori Ellis]

I'm sure it's the new ball.

The ball looks and feels a lot different, I wonder if it will take time for the players to adjust.

[Kori Ellis]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/news/uploads/newball.jpg

[J.T.]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Kori Ellis]

Well they were already using it as the pre-draft camp, so I'm sure they'll be using it in the NBA soon.

[jman3000]

did they by any chance take a poll with the players first to gauge whether or not they'd prefer it?

edit: it would also seem the non shooting hand would have to get used to a totally different feel... i haven't held it obviously so i couldnt say for sure, but personally when i shoot a ball i like to feel the seams with my off hand as well.

[Burn531]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/news/uploads/newball.jpg


Hmm... I kinda like it. When was the last time they changed the design of the ball anyway.

[SPARKY]

Will that box contain a bottle of shampoo, scissors and a gift card to the Men's Warehouse for Mark Cuban?

[mavsfan1000]

Bennett Salvatore's decapitated head, snakes included ala "Clash of the Titans".
I only wish :lol. Bennett Salvatore is probably the worst ref in the nba.

[Das Texan]

Why the change to this new ball.


And now I gotta go out and get a new ball.


Fun.

[ShackO]

I heard it is going to look something like thishttp://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v222/flatulence-foul/new%20one/th_shaqisanas.jpg

[spurschick]

They've been using it at the U18 qualifying this week as well.

[Budkin]

It says that it is "sure to change the way you see the game."

Maybe the new ball has got some crazy camera or something in it, or some type of technology that transmits information to the television cameras or something (like the old Fox hockey puck trail and the NFL first down and line of scrimmage colored lines). Who knows? Whatever it is, it's probably a gimmick. :rolleyes

[ShoogarBear]

LMAO, I can only think of what a new ball will mean to Nazr's sure grip.

[Trainwreck2100]

change the way you see the game????

I got it, the refs change their colors to blue and white.

[East Coast Babe]

It's probably like the bowl the Heat had in their locker room that no one knew what was in it. He borrowed their idea! Only it is a box!

[Borosai]

Maybe, in spirit of the World Cup, the NBA is moving to a ball that players can bend around defenders' arms and shit...aerodynamic and shit...all that shit.

[Obstructed_View]

It's the new 4, 5 and 6 point lines. You will now see guys pull up from half court on a fast break.

[Doug Collins]

Maybe it´s a giant diamond

[TxJudsonRocketTx]

Maybe it´s a giant diamond
http://buy.overstock.com/images/products/muze/dvd/207415.jpg

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

The new bucks jersey.

[East Coast Babe]

Maybe it has Stern's retirement papers!! LOL!!

[ALVAREZ6]

Wow.



They really are painting the balls blue

[1Parker1]

Is Michael Jordan going to jump out of the box?

:lmao :lmao

[TDMVPDPOY]

ugly ball

molten ball> nba ball

[TDMVPDPOY]

and i dont trust the new ball either, stern mite implant a chip in it and when u see him of his goons in the stands, then you know the game is goin to fix anyway, his goin to control if the ball goes in or out the ring

[Obstructed_View]

N.B.A. Retires Leather Ball

By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: June 28, 2006

The National Basketball Association will introduce a new game ball today at its Midtown Manhattan store, bringing an end to the 60-year run of the leather ball. Teams will begin using the new ball in the 2006-7 season.

The new ball, produced by Spalding, is made of a composite material that is meant to ensure a better grip. The league last altered the design of the ball 35 years ago, when it moved from one made with four panels to one with eight.

Traditionally, a fresh leather ball is too slippery to be used in a game, so teams break them in during practice to improve their grip. By comparison, the new composite ball can be used immediately.

Spalding composite balls have been used in the N.B.A. Development League and in the Women's National Basketball Association. But the N.B.A.'s new ball will be different from the ones used by its other affiliated leagues.

The N.B.A.'s shift from leather comes nearly four years after the National Collegiate Athletic Association made a similar move to a Wilson composite ball for its men's and women's tournaments. That followed decisions by most teams and conferences to abandon leather for synthetic balls during the regular season.

Teams still have a choice, but the N.C.A.A. does not keep track of how many still use leather, a spokeswoman said. In 2002, at the time of the N.C.A.A. decision, only 6 of the 64 teams in the men's tournament used leather balls.

[TheSanityAnnex]

At the bottom of the article is some info on the new ball. It mentions shooting % might be lowered with its use.


http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17689.shtml

[baseline bum]

I wish they kept the seams the same. For some reason the shot just feels so much more natural when I line it up in my right hand at the intersection of all the seams and then use my left right in the middle of the leather to shoot a jumper. I love the way a leather ball feels when I shoot it.

[DirkAB]

I like those composite balls. I'm sure they will be marketing the new ball heavily. I remember how cool everybody thought it was to have an NBA ball when I was little, but once the balls started to change in the mid 90's that was no longer the case. The official NBA ball was like $75 when I was little, compared to the other leather ones which were $40-50. I think that the officail NBA balls were the first ones that had wide channels back then.

[Marklar MM]

I like the Wilson composite balls. That is the design that should be used, just made by Spalding.

[Pistons < Spurs]

NBA unveils new game ball for 2006-07 season

NEW YORK -- Sure, the shooting in the NBA might improve. David Stern sees another benefit to the league's new official game ball, though.

As the commissioner joked Wednesday, now his signature gets to go on the ball twice.

That is just one of the changes on the new game ball, which was unveiled by league and Spalding officials at a news conference at the NBA Store and will be put into use at the start of the 2006-07 season.

The biggest, and most important, difference is that the ball is no longer leather. Instead, it's made of a microfiber composite that allows for a much better and more consistent grip.

The ability to grip the leather was a driving reason behind the first change to the ball in more than 35 years.

"That really became a challenge, particularly when the ball was wet," said executive vice president of operations Stu Jackson.

Jackson said the ball was tested at the 2005 All-Star game and predraft camp. The league then asked Spalding to make some changes, and it was brought back for more testing at this year's All-Star game and in the Development League.

Most players will be familiar with the feel of the new ball. Stern pointed out that leather balls were no longer used at the high school or collegiate level, and Jackson estimated that "99 percent" of the league's players grew up using only a composite ball.

"This is another step as we all work together to improve the game of basketball," Stern said.

Gone also is the old eight-panel design, replaced by one featuring two panels -- each bearing the signature "David J. Stern."

Boston Celtics All-Star Paul Pierce and former NBA player Kenny Smith both pointed to the inconsistencies of a leather ball, which they said needed to be broken in before it felt right. Plus, the feel of the balls differed from arena to arena.

Every one of the balls should now feel, grip and bounce the same.

"Maybe I can cut down on my turnovers next year," Pierce said.

[Obstructed_View]

Appropriately, when viewed from a certain angle, the new ball looks like an Iron Cross. Not so subtle hint for all teams not from Dallas, perhaps?

[BgT]

I wish they kept the seams the same. For some reason the shot just feels so much more natural when I line it up in my right hand at the intersection of all the seams and then use my left right in the middle of the leather to shoot a jumper. I love the way a leather ball feels when I shoot it.
You are not playing in NBA, it doesn't change anything for you. :lol

[1Parker1]

They all say "David J. Stern" on it? What...is the guy immortal or something? What are they gonna do with all those balls when he retires?

[ShoogarBear]

They are working on the retirement issue as we speak:

http://www.genetics-and-society.org/images/media/Lab_of_human_clone.jpg

[Obstructed_View]

They all say "David J. Stern" on it? What...is the guy immortal or something? What are they gonna do with all those balls when he retires?
Out of curiosity, when has a basketball not had the commissioner's signature on it? Hell, I had an ABA ball with what must have been George Mikan's signature on it.

[CubanMustGo]

They all say "David J. Stern" on it? What...is the guy immortal or something? What are they gonna do with all those balls when he retires?

(1) More business for the company that makes the ball when Stern does retire in a coupla years.
(2) Not only does it say "David J. Stern," it says it twice.

[DirkAB]

They all say "David J. Stern" on it? What...is the guy immortal or something? What are they gonna do with all those balls when he retires?


Where have you been? They have always had his sig on it.

[1Parker1]

Where have you been? They have always had his sig on it.

I never knew that...was it as big/obvious as the new one?

[td4mvp21]

Where have you been? They have always had his sig on it.

I think its the Mavs fan syndrome.....

[1Parker1]

:lol I'm not really a Mavs fan...I just lost a bet.

Damn, Testy Spurs fans. :(

[jman3000]

haha, this is like the 1000 th time a spurs fan has called out 1p1 for no other reason than her being a "mav fan"

spurs fans are douche bags.

[td4mvp21]

Well hey, I had no idea about the bet. Sorry 1P1! :depressed