ESPN (Ric Bucher) reports: The NBA will use leather basketballs in its developmental league next season, temporarily ending its attempts to re-introduce a composite ball at the NBA level, a league official has confirmed. “We are committed to leather for the foreseeable future,” said league spokesman Tim Frank. “We just realized leather is what our guys wanted.” … The D League will begin next season using an eight-paneled leather ball and then switch to a two-paneled version sometime around midseason, Frank said.
InsideHoops.com editor says: The old composite ball felt good to hold, but was rough on the hands, and changed for the worse when wet. I hope they just stick with the leather forever.