On November 1st, 1949 the first NBA basketball game took place in Toronto with Wilson being the ball on the court. Spalding took over as the official ball for the next 37 seasons.

Wilson is back. Starting with the 2021 NBA and WNBA season, Wilson will return as the official game ball. We were tasked with creating buzz surrounding Wilson’s return to the league. With this return we knew the best way to connect was through Wilson’s legacy. 

The Cultural Connection. Racial diversity in sports, especially basketball, was almost non-existent during the formation of the NBA. Wat Misaka was the pioneer of racial representation in basketball as the first non-white player. Misaka lived during a time where many other Japanese Americans were being put into internment camps. He paved the way for people of all races, telling them that nothing is impossible.

People are inspired by firsts. People aspire to be greater when they see boundaries broken and goals made. When you grab a Wilson basketball you’re playing alongside legends. You are the next legend. We knew that this message would resonate with basketball lovers around the world, especially during this time of racial progression.

Pioneers of Sport. This campaign inspires people of all backgrounds that they can become their own pioneer with Wilson by highlighting a variety of basketball ‘firsts’. Our deliverables consist of television, print, out-of-home, digital, social media, and interactive.