Abinash,
The previous sizes were a standard 29.5 inch basketball has about 4118 pebbles, with the pebbles being at a diameter of 2.5 millimeters. An orange surface with black ribs and a possible logo is the traditional color scheme of basketballs but they are sold in various colors.

Modern day basket balls have strict criteria for its certified basketballs:
The ball must be size 7, bear the name of the manufacturer and a serial number. It must be made of either genuine or artificial/synthetic leather and must be free of toxic materials and materials which may cause allergic reactions, and must also be free of heavy metals and AZO colors, though FIBA does not specify a specific color for the ball.

It must be between 749 millimeters (mm) and 780 mm in circumference, it must bounce at least 1300 mm when dropped from a height of 1800 mm on a hard surface with a mass of more than 1 ton, and it must weigh between 567 grams (g) and 650 g.

Basket ball are mad of an inflatable inner rubber bladder, generally wrapped in layers of fiber and then covered with a tacky surface made either from leather (traditional), rubber, or a synthetic composite. As in most inflatable balls, there is a small opening to allow the pressure to be increased or decreased.

Answered by Jateen Gutta , an ibibo Master, at 8:51 PM on October 15, 2008

A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 by 15 meters (approx. 92 by 49 ft) and in the NBA is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m). Most courts are made of wood. A steel basket with net and backboard hang over each end of the court. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (3.05 m) above the court and 4 feet (1.2 m) inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height; a rim that is off by but a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.

There are also regulations on the size a basketball should be. If women are playing, the official basketball size is 28.5" in circumference (size 6) and a weight of 20 oz. For men, the official ball is 29.5" in circumference (size 7) and weighs 22 oz.

Answered by ani , an ibibo Advisor, at 10:11 PM on October 05, 2008

As far as the womens go:
The NCAA introduced the first women's basketball in 1984 which was one inch smaller than a regulation men's ball. The wonam's ball was 28.5 compared to the 29.5 men's ball. The WNBA did not begin until 1997 however, so the first WNBA game was played with an official 28.5 women's basketball.

Answered by Satyakam , an ibibo Master, at 1:41 PM on October 03, 2008