How to Choose an Official NBA Ball

Aside from a short experiment with synthetics a few years ago, the NBA has been using the same ball for decades. Everyone from Julius Erving to Michael Jordan to Lebron James have won the big games with an official NBA basketball. Luckily for fans like yourself, it has never been easier to own an official NBA basketball.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check to confirm that the basketball is made of leather. Anything made of rubber or a synthetic material is not an official NBA ball. Leather will feel coarse and thick on your fingers. This gives players a good grip for shooting--any other substitute will not do.

    • 2

      Look for the NBA logo on the ball. The National Basketball Association stamps its logo on all official balls. The logo is a rectangle with the silhouette of a dribbling player in the center.

    • 3

      Search for the NBA commissioner's signature somewhere on the ball. Some companies can get away with producing leather balls and some produce leather balls with the NBA logo. But only an official NBA basketball has the commissioner's signature ingrained in the leather.

    • 4

      Shop at official NBA retailers online. There are several places that offer discounted prices on basketballs. However, there is no way to tell if what you will receive is an official ball. Go to a website that is an official seller of NBA merchandise.

    • 5

      Visit a reputable sporting goods store. Many chain department stores sell basketballs and some sell very good balls. But only a high-quality sporting goods store will offer an official NBA ball with the signature, logo and leather you need to shoot like the pros.