USA - NBA to switch back to leather ball

NEW YORK (NBA) - NBA commissioner David Stern has confirmed that the league will dispense with its controversial new ball and revert to a leather model from next month.

The official switch will come on January 1, and the move has already brought a favourable reaction from players, many of whom had been unhappy with Spalding's composite game ball, introduced at the start of the season.

"I love the old leather ball and I don't like the ball we play with now, so I'm anxious to get back and start practising with the old one," the Cleveland Cavaliers' Team USA superstar LeBron James said.

"I like it. I was one of the guys who who said he didn't like the new ball very much," Chicago Bulls third-year guard Ben Gordon added.

"I think it is big that the NBA is taking what the players are saying into consideration. It's great that the NBA is changing back to what guys are more comfortable with."

In the pre-season, the league introduced a microfiber composite ball, the first change since 1970. The NBA claimed the new ball had a more consistent feel to it, but the ball has drawn widespread complaints from players about its somewhat abrasive exterior surface.

"Our players' response to this particular composite ball has been consistently negative and we are acting accordingly," Stern said.

"Although testing performed by Spalding and the NBA demonstrated that the new composite basketball was more consistent than leather, and statistically there has been an improvement in shooting, scoring, and ball-related turnovers, the most important statistic is the view of our players.

"In the meantime, we will work with our players and our partners at Spalding to determine the best possible ball for the NBA."

Prominent players such as two-time defending MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and assistant coaches have said handling the new ball leaves them with small cuts on their hands.

"I still have a paper cut from the (new) ball," said Germany international Dirk Nowitzki, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks. "I think it's the right decision based on people actually getting injured by the ball. That doesn't make sense, obviously.

"The players complaining about how it feels, that doesn't matter. But if it's actually starting to injure people, that's a bad thing.

"I think, for all the players, it won't take long to get used to the old ball again, we played with it for so long. I support the decision."

Other players have said the new ball seems to "grip" or "grab" better than the leather ball, making for more forgiving shots that bounce off the backboard or rim.

"I think it's something that the guys who have been in the league for a long time will embrace it, but now we we'll have to make the adjustment from the new ball to the old ball," New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd said. "But it's the right thing to do."

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said his team will be among those facing the toughest adjustment period.

"That whole thing, that's nuts to me," Rivers said. "We got to be more interested because we're going to play on back-to-back nights. We actually play on New Year's Eve and then New Year's Day, so one day we're going to play with one ball and the next day we're going to play with another."

On December 1, the NBA Players Association filed a pair of unfair labour practices with the National Labor Relations Board. One was related to the ball and the fact that the league did not consult with players about changes to the game.

The ball was used in the 2006 All-Star Game but was not met with approval. In the off-season, the NBA had Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr - former players turned announcers - test the ball in highly controlled conditions.

Stern repeatedly turned a deaf ear to the repeated complaints, saying the new ball was here to stay. But less than a week ago, he backpedalled, taking responsibility and admitting the NBA made a mistake in not consulting with players.

New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott said he might have misgivings with the switch after watching his team shoot 55% in a 95-89 victory over the Cavaliers on Monday night.

"If we keep having nights like we did tonight, I may call up David (Stern) and see if we can play with it for another couple months," Scott joked.

PA Sport