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NBA players have complained all month that the league's new synthetic ball feels and performs differently from the old leather one.

According to results of a study requested by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, they may be right.

Physicists at the University of Texas-Arlington released results of preliminary tests they say proves the microfiber composite ball doesn't behave like the old leather ball. A number of players have griped about its grip and unpredictable bounce since training camps opened.

Cuban contacted Dr. James L. Horwitz, chairman of UT-Arlington's physics department, to test both balls - though the owner says he has no intention of doing anything with the results.

''Nothing,'' he told The Associated Press in an e-mail. ''Just try to support the commissioner and the league to the fullest of my ability with the data.''

According to the results released Sunday, the ball bounces 5 to 8 percent lower than typical leather balls when dropped from 4 feet. It also found that the new ball bounces 30 percent more erratically.

Commissioner David Stern dismissed that complaint last week, and said the NBA is staying with the new ball. Cuban said the league should do the same in his Internet blog.

Dan Touhey, vice president of marketing for Spalding, said the difference in bounce could be because of the surface it was bounced on, or more likely because of the age of the balls. An old leather ball will bounce more than a new one, as well as a new synthetic ball.

The other finding of the study directly contrasts with what the NBA and Spalding have said about the feel of the ball when it is wet.

The league has stressed that one of the advantages of the composite material is that it's easier to grip when it starts to get damp. But the researchers found that it's less absorbent than leather, causing it to be more slippery when moist.

Mutombo heckler banned

An Orlando Magic fan who aimed a racial slur at Dikembe Mutombo was banned by the NBA from all games this season. The Magic revoked the man's season tickets.

The fan, identified by the Orlando Sentinel as real estate agent Hooman Hamzehloui, was ejected from an Oct. 26 preseason game between the Magic and Mutombo's Houston Rockets after calling Mutombo a ''monkey'' and making faces at him, the newspaper said.

According to the Sentinel, Hamzehloui wrote Mutombo an apology and said he did not know the word was a racial slur.

Bogut will play in opener

Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, the former No. 1 overall draft pick from the University of Utah, will be available to play in the team's regular-season opener against Detroit on Wednesday.

Bogut sustained an injury to his lower left leg in a collision during the team's open scrimmage on Oct. 7 at the Bradley Center. Because it was a rather unusual injury, the Bucks conservatively estimated that he would be out any where from six to eight weeks.

Around the Association

Knicks: Jalen Rose was waived.

SuperSonics: Seattle and guard Luke Ridnour announced an agreement on a contract extension.

Hornets: New Orleans signed David West to a multiyear contract extension.

Grizzlies: Memphis exercised the third-year contract option for forward Hakim Warrick.

Nets: New Jersey waived veteran forward Darvin Ham.

Bulls: Chicago waived center Luke Schenscher.

Pacers: Indiana waived rookie swingman James White and center John Edwards.