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When Ossie Schectman scored the first basket in NBA history, on November 1, 1946, a Wilson Sporting Goods brand ball had broken into his hoop. That, however, had not been the pioneer in manufacturing specific balls for basketball, because at the origin, back in 1894, is the company that Albert Goodwill Spalding founded.

Remote times that come back to the fore, because Wilson and Spalding became as eternal as they dominated the market. Another historical rivalry , like so many that planted the league's legendary harvest on the field. His particular 'war' now has the penultimate episode, as the best league in the world will return to its origins from 2021.

Coinciding with the NBA's 75th anniversary, Wilson will again be the official ball , under the deal announced this week. Also from the WNBA, G-League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League. Recover the billionaire scepter that yielded in 1983, in those years when the league itself was escaping in a big way from its worst time. Soon Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan (and David Stern) would propel it to the skies that it maintains today.

In principle, no radical changes are expected in the physical specifications of the ball, which Wilson is about to develop. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) will work with the brand through a player advisory board , which will provide suggestions to Wilson's engineers.

Noah, in his NCAA era, with a Wilson ball.

It is unclear why Spalding accepted the end of his nearly 37-year reign, because it really means a huge loss of revenue for the company in these troubled times. The previous agreement supposed him about 17 million dollars per season , in addition to a priceless showcase. The Chicago company, also famous for its rackets - used by Federer, Raonic or Azarenka, among many others - already has dominance in High School basketball and, above all, provides the official ball for the NCAA tournament. Wilson was the name and brand of the volleyball ball that Tom Hanks talked to in the movie 'Castaway'.

"This partnership with Wilson brings us back to our roots as we plan for the future," proclaimed Salvatore LaRocca , president of NBA Global Partnerships. "Our passion for this game and the league runs incredibly deep. Our commitment to growing the game of basketball on the world stage is Wilson's heart and our new partnership with the NBA," added Kevin Murphy, General Manager of Wilson Basketball.

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