Wilson Releases Its Long-Expected 3D Printed Basketball

It’s here, Wilson’s long-promised 3DP basketball. It doesn’t require inflation, it’s customizable, and it’s pricy.

Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has released its promised Wilson Airless Gen1. The ball is the first-of-its-kind 3D-printed basketball. Building off the success of the airless prototype last year, the limited-edition Wilson Airless Gen1 basketball was finally launched for purchase.

Image courtesy of Woodwork Amsterdam

Limited units of the Wilson Airless Gen1 per posted on Wilson.com for the staggering price of $2,500. Last year as talk about the ball swirled, the expected price was $200 to $250. Visits to the Wilson site reveal that the first run of the ball has already sold out. Visitors are asked to sign up for notices of new production.

Here’s an ad for the basketball:

Chatter about the ball has been going on for nearly a year. "We were overwhelmed by the excitement from our airless prototype, and we knew it was time to bring this rare innovation to the world," said Kevin Murphy, general manager for team sports at Wilson. "Wilson has gone where no brand has gone before with the release of the Airless Gen1 basketball, further inspiring the next generation of sports innovation."

Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

The Wilson Airless Gen1 has similar functionality to the prototype which was circulated to trial audiences last year. Since then, the Wilson Labs team has taken steps to increase performance and streamline the manufacturing process. The basketball nearly fits the performance specifications of a regulation basketball, including its weight, size and rebound (bounce). While the Wilson Airless Gen1 is crafted for play, it is truly a coveted, technology-infused product meant to create and inspire a new community of innovation enthusiasts.

Here's some background on the ball:

Tech Details on Wilson’s Airless Gen1