Spalding Announces Partnership with Crayola

Spalding has announced a partnership with Crayola. The partnership hopes to inspire the next generation to unleash their creativity. It features exclusive products, from colorful basketballs to portable hoops and accessories, including crayon-inspired air pumps, rainbow basketball nets and more.  

“With a focus on growing the game of basketball to a younger audience, we wanted to lean into a creative partnership to help reach kids who may be picking up a basketball for the first time,” says Ben Simms, senior product marketing manager, Spalding. “At Spalding, we want kids to be outside, playing sports, tapping into their imagination, and Crayola was a natural partner that shares these similar values.”  

“Crayola celebrates creativity because we believe it is fundamental to developing skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and self-confidence, on and off the court,” says April Heeren, general manager, domestic outbound licensing, Crayola. “This partnership with Spalding will inspire kids to get their game on through colorful self-expression and innovative play.” 

Spalding will kick off the partnership with Crayola through “Doodles to Dribbles,” a design-your-own-basketball activation through Spalding.com. The campaign will kick off on Nov. 15 and run through Dec. 15. The three winning basketball designs will be recreated in a one-of-a-kind sample and sent directly to winners. 

The Spalding+Crayola collection will launch Nov. 15 with a limited-edition Colors of Kindness basketball and a green, 12-inch Crayola crayon-inspired pump exclusively on Spalding.com. In March, Spalding will release the remaining pieces of the collection.