It still feels surreal that Kobe Bryant passed away this year. Kobe and his daughter Gianna were tragically killed in a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven others. Months later, fans are still shaken up about it all and continue to produce tributes in his honor. After all, Kobe is one of the best basketball players to ever live and inspired millions to pick up a basketball and try out the sport for themselves.
Now, Kobe is receiving a tribute in the form of a limited edition Spalding basketball. As you can see in the tweet below, the ball features a snakeskin covering which plays into his "Black Mamba" nickname. The ball features his signature and will go on sale as of Monday, June 15th.
Considering the ball is limited edition, don't expect to be able to cop it with ease. Something likes this is going to sell out in mere seconds so be sure to stay on top of things come Monday. The real Kobe fans are certainly going to want this to add to their collection of memorabilia.
Since his passing, numerous Kobe items have gone up for auction and they have fetched thousands of dollars. While the ball won't be going for as much, it will still carry quite a bit of sentimental value.
Kevin Durant Unhappy With NBA Moving From Spalding To Wilson
The NBA has decided to change basketballs from Spalding to Wilson and Kevin Durant had something to say about it.
For years, the NBA has been using Spalding basketballs, and players have grown to be quite comfortable with them. In fact, Spalding created the very first basketball back in the 1800s which just goes to show that their equipment is pretty legendary and has a ton of historical significance. Despite all of this, it appears as though the NBA will be moving on from Spalding and instead, will you Wilson balls moving forward.
This was a huge shock to fans and, more importantly, the players in the NBA who actually have to deal with the new equipment. In fact, Kevin Durant had some commentary on the matter, saying "Oh hell nah" when presented with the new facts. Clearly, he and some of his peers throughout the league are a bit worried about how the Wilson balls will stack up.
A basketball is a very particular piece of equipment and when players are presented with something they're not used to, it can lead to some pretty massive problems. With that being said, the Wilson balls will take quite a bit of getting used to as of next season.
The G-League and WNBA will also be making the switch which means the new deal between Wilson and the NBA must be quite lucrative.
