Despite its hefty price tag, there’s good reason to believe the Wilson Airless Gen1 basketballs — which will be limited to just 200 examples — are bound to sell quicker than you could drain a three. And that’s before we factor in the whole exclusivity element.
Initially unveiled as a prototype at the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk competition, suffice it to say, those who weren’t wowed by the concept alone were immediately drawn in by the striking black latticework that the regulation-sized spherical reinvention so wonderfully flaunts.
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“The push for this was overwhelming,” Kevin Krysiak, Wilson’s Senior Director of Global Research & Development (Team Sports), told Forbes.
“Numerous tech publications, NBA players, NBA governors, all reached out and said we want this. This is what really drove us to bring it to market. There are just way too many people asking for it. We have to put it out some way.”
As the name suggests, this basketball has been designed with advanced airless technology to ensure consistent bounce and performance, removing the need for an inflated bladder (and the need to inflate in general); while leveraging a unique 3D-printed polymer that promises to provide “exceptional grip.” Translation? You won’t ever run into any of the issues faced with rubber, i.e. deflating, rapid wear, loss of grip.
“By adding those holes… it also creates a more consistent ball. And it just looks cool,” explains Wilson Innovation Manager Nadine Lippa.
Versatility is the name of the game here. In addition to the elite bounce and grip factor, the Wilson Airless Gen1 basketballs have also been designed to withstand all manner of weather conditions, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor play.
“There’s all these new inventions and creations that come out every year, and there’s always this group of folks who want to be the first to get their hands on it,” says David Picioski, Wilson’s Director of Partnerships & Collaborations (via Fast Company).
“We feel like the amount that we have currently is really suitable for us and Nadine and the R&D team.”
The Airless ball will be available to purchase from February 16th, 2024 in three distinct colours: black, a broken leather hue, as well as an “undyed” off-white (the natural shade of the ball’s printed polymer).
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Emblazoned with the obligatory Wilson logo, each ball will feature a custom panel identifying it as an individual edition within this limited run. Assuming it sells like we’re anticipating, we should expect the rollout of the “Gen2 and beyond.”
“It is the Airless Gen1, which is going to imply future generations. That is the goal,” notes Kevin Krysiak.
Learn more below.
