Spalding launches new basketball featuring Silver's signature in China

New Ball Bearing the Imprinted Signature of National Basketball AssociationCommissioner Adam Silver to be Available for First Time in China

BEIJING - Spalding China announced today the launch of new basketballs featuring Adam Silver's embossed signature. The announcement was made at the China Sports Show 2014 in Wuhan, Hubei Province with participation from by Daniel R. Peterson, President of Spalding International and Simon Hou, Managing Director of Spalding China.

As the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, Spalding will manufacture and sell basketballs featuring the new NBA Commissioner's imprinted signature through a variety of retail networks across China. Spalding will utilize its assembly and testing process to ensure the highest-quality of basketballs.

"I am honored to launch the new basketballs in partnership with the NBA in China," said Peterson. "It has been a wonderful experience to have partnered with the NBA over the past 30 years. We will continue working with the NBA to develop the game of basketball in China."

Spalding became the official basketball of the NBA during the 1983-84 NBA season, the same year that David Stern became commissioner. When Stern took office, the NBA began using game balls that bore his signature. Starting Feb. 1, 2014, when Silver assumed the position of NBA Commissioner, the game balls with Silver's signature were put into play.

Spalding has been growing together with the NBA over the past 30 years. Today, NBA games are broadcast in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages, and NBA merchandise is available in more than 125,000 stores across six continents. Spalding basketballs have been involved in more than 38,500 NBA games and nearly seven million points scored. In 2013, Spalding China was formed to oversee Spalding's business in the region and to promote basketball culture in China.

"The set-up of Spalding China means a lot to us," said Hou. "It enables us to expand our product lines to more categories including basketball stands, shoes, sports outfits and accessories."

From the development of the very first basketball to the first synthetic basketball and the latest in NEVERFLAT® technology, Spalding continues to provide consumers the highest-quality products and service.

About Spalding

A Division of Russell Brands, LLC, Spalding is the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, and America's first baseball company. Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA Development League and the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official baseball of the Little League World Series and the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand. The SPALDING® and DUDLEY® trademarks are owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.