Section 2: Equipment
The Basketball
The official NBA game ball is manufactured by Wilson (replacing Spalding beginning with the 2021-2022 season). It must meet the following specifications:
- Size: Size 7 (men's official) with a circumference of 29.5 inches (74.9 cm)
- Weight: 22 ounces (623.7 g)
- Material: Full-grain Horween leather with a pebbled surface for consistent grip
- Inflation: Between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch (psi)
- Bounce: When dropped from a height of 6 feet (1.83 m) onto a hardwood floor, the ball must bounce to a height of 49 to 54 inches (124.5–137.2 cm)
- Color: Traditional orange with black seams and the NBA logo
Each team is required to have a minimum of three game balls available for each game. Home teams supply the game balls, which must be approved by the game officials prior to tip-off.
Backboard and Rim
- Backboard: Rectangular, 6 feet (1.83 m) wide by 3.5 feet (1.07 m) tall, made of transparent tempered glass or polycarbonate with a 2-inch (5.08 cm) white border
- Rim (basket): 18 inches (45.7 cm) in internal diameter, made of 5/8-inch (1.59 cm) diameter steel rod, painted orange
- Rim height: 10 feet (3.05 m) above the playing floor, measured to the top edge of the rim
- Net: White cord, 15 to 18 inches (38.1–45.7 cm) in length, designed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through the basket
- Breakaway rim: All NBA baskets use breakaway (spring-loaded) rims designed to flex downward under pressure and return to horizontal, preventing backboard damage and reducing injury risk during dunks
Player Uniforms
- Jersey: Each player must wear a jersey with a unique number (0–99) on both the front and back. Numbers must be at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall on the back and 4 inches (10.2 cm) on the front.
- Shorts: Must be of a uniform color matching the team's designated uniform for that game
- Shoes: Basketball shoes must be worn; no open-toed or non-athletic footwear is permitted. The NBA has relaxed color restrictions, allowing players to wear shoes of any color.
- Compression gear: Undershirts, tights, and arm/leg sleeves are permitted but must match the predominant color of the jersey
- Headbands and wristbands: Permitted in team-approved colors; headbands must be no wider than 2 inches
Prohibited Equipment
- Jewelry of any kind (rings, necklaces, earrings, watches) during games
- Hard or dangerous objects that could cause injury (casts, splints, or braces must be padded and approved by the officials)
- Unapproved commercial logos or personal messaging on uniforms or equipment
- Sticky substances on hands or the ball
Shot Clock and Game Clock
- Shot clock: Visible displays mounted above each backboard, showing the 24-second shot clock countdown. Must be visible to players, officials, and spectators.
- Game clock: Centrally located scoreboard displaying game time, score, period, team fouls, and timeouts remaining
- LED lights: Backboard-mounted LED strips that illuminate red when the shot clock or game clock expires, providing visual confirmation for officials