Throughout the 2013-14 NBA season, Spalding, a division of Russell Brands, LLC, and the world's largest basketball equipment supplier, will celebrate 30 years as the Official Game Ball of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, Spalding launched the “Only1Ball” campaign to celebrate its relationship with the league which includes more than 38,500 games and nearly 7 million points scored.
 
“Spalding has been a part of so many great NBA moments over the last 30 years,” said Sal LaRocca, NBA Executive Vice President of Global Merchandising. “The NBA is proud to celebrate this anniversary with Spalding and reflect on 30 years of outstanding basketball.”
 
Spalding became the official basketball of the NBA during the 1983-84 NBA season, the same year that David Stern became commissioner. Since that time, Spalding has been a part of the NBA’s tremendous growth to 30 franchises, programming in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.
 
“The NBA relationship is such an important part of Spalding’s legacy,” said Paul Sullivan, Senior Vice President for Spalding. “We are thrilled to celebrate 30 years of growth together and announce the ‘Only1Ball’ campaign for the upcoming season.”
 
The “Only1Ball” Anniversary Celebration will include:

  • ·         A vignette series to honor the incredible moments and iconic images in the NBA over the past 30 years. The series was created in conjunction with NBA Entertainment and will debut around NBA All-Star 2014, with subsequent episodes airing throughout the season
  • ·         Anniversary advertising featuring Spalding brand ambassador and NBA champion, Paul Pierce of the Brooklyn Nets
  • ·         #Only1Ball Sweepstakes in which one lucky fan will have the opportunity to win a trip to the 2014 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. Fans can enter the promotion by visiting www.spalding.com/Only1Ball or Spalding’s Facebook page
  • ·         30th Anniversary Spalding logo on courts and specialized basketball packaging

For more information on Spalding’s 30th Anniversary as the Official Game Ball of the NBA, visit www.spalding.com/Only1Ball.