Wilson Airless Prototype Basketball
Anyone who's ever hit the court knows nothing brings the game to a halt like a deflated ball. Wilson has taken its first steps toward eliminating that possibility with its Airless Prototype Basketball. Developed by the same team that's behind the NBA game ball, the prototype uses a 3D-printed structure and research-grade materials to replicate the bounce of a traditional ball. Small hexagonal holes laid across eight panel-like lobes allow air to pass through the ball freely, giving it a unique look that was first debuted by KJ Martin of the Houston Rockets during the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest. As a prototype, there are no plans for production at the time, but it does offer an intriguing potential glimpse of future offerings.