The NBA have been filled with controversies this season as experts and media look to find out the reason for the lack of scoring this season. After a lot of different talks, the controversies have now been about the new Wilson balls that are in use in the league. The NBA have gone past the good old Spalding ball and have decided to use Wilson instead. While players like Paul George and Joel Embiid have also claimed that the Wilson balls are a lot different than the ones they use. However, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has come up with contradicting opinion as he feels that the ball are all the same.
Since the start of this NBA season, the shooting statistics have taken a major hit and that has insisted experts and media to find out why the players have not managed to fire on all cylinders. At the start, some people felt that it was because of the change of rules that the players did not get easy fouls and made their journey to the free-throw line. But the stats keep on shocking everyone as it is one of the lowest in last few decades while the rules can be a factor some people also feel that the change in ball also has affected the rhythm for the players.
Elite shooters like Damian Lillard, Luka Donic and Stephen Curry have lost a lot of points and it is a lot more than coincidence. Recently Curry raised issues with the new Wilson balls in play at the NBA.
Earlier, Clippers’ Paul George went on record to criticize the new balls. “Not to make an excuse or anything about the ball but I said that it’s just a different basketball. It doesn’t have the same touch and softness that the Spalding ball had,” claimed George. Meanwhile, powerhouse Embiid opined, “I’m always looking for excuses but the ball is different. Still don’t feel comfortable with it.”
However, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant feels that the new balls are all the same, at least to him. Players generally like the rough texture on the ball’s surface as it helps them to grip the ball nicely. However, Durant has said that he has not found any difference between the two balls.
It is important to find out the reason why players are shooting with less accuracy, a stat that is coming down for more than one player at the same time cannot be only a mere coincidence.