Back in 1986, Phil Jackson came clean and admitted to the Chicago Tribune that the Knicks of the 1960s and ’70s intentionally deflated basketballs to gain a competitive advantage. Jackson played 10 seasons in New York.
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Jackson said the underinflated balls didn’t hurt them in any way, because the team’s high-octane offense was predicated on swinging the ball. It also helped them slow down teams in transition and win the nightly battle on the glass.
According to the article, the Knicks’ shenanigans didn’t break any rules. Rather, it was a “creative invention” that gave them an edge.
Jackson later tweeted that the basketballs weren’t underinflated, they were simply “softer.”
Something tells me the NBA wouldn’t be so lenient if this were to occur again.
(Source: Reddit)
