When it comes to technological innovation, the NBA is perhaps the most advanced professional sports league in the United States. It’s long been one of the most tech-forward organizations in the country, with franchises willing to push forward experimental technologies throughout the league’s history.
It’s not really a surprise that teams boasting owners that are big names in the tech industry (the late Paul Allen, Mark Cuban, and Steve Ballmer, for example) are also driving forward nifty innovations. Here are the latest technologies that the NBA is showcasing during the 2018-2019 season.
Kinexion’s Wearable Tech
We’re all familiar with the FitBit. The NBA has embraced wearable technology of this kind, and then some. It’s all about data, with teams interested in tracking as much as they can about what’s happening on the court and their players.
Kinexion is the big name here, with the wearable technology company growing to become the league’s major provider of wearable kit. Starting with the Sixers in 2017, the company now boasts almost half the league amongst its client list.
The company’s tiny transmitters weigh just under an ounce. They can be inserted into a small pouch sewn into the player’s shorts, an unnoticeable tracker that provides a wealth of valuable information. For example, the tool can render a near-perfect 3D location, while its inbuilt gyroscope, magnetometer, and accelerometer providing a range of metrics.
This innovation is really only possible in a major professional sports league such as the NBA or the NFL, where revenue and viewership allow investment in expensive kit such as this. The usefulness of the tool makes it worth it however, with teams using Kinexion’s wearables to prevent injuries. With players worth tens of millions of dollars, the investment pays for itself multiple times over.
Nike’s Connected Uniforms
The American sports giant has been the official supplier of the NBA’s uniforms since the 2017-2018 season. The company has made huge investments in its garments, with the current jerseys being 20% lighter than previous varieties.
But that’s not what we’re interested in here. Nike has also decided to turn its uniforms into a technological bridge between players and fans. Each jersey purchased by fans comes bundled with an NFC chip, which gives the owner a window into their favorite player. Accessed through the NikeConnect app, we’re talking unique content such as highlights, the most recent stats, a personal warm-up playlist on Spotify (as used by the player!), and early access for tickets and events.
Social Media
The NBA isn’t the first organization to do anything unique with social media. Everything they do has been seen elsewhere. So why is it on the list? It’s the way the league leverages social media that makes it so unique.
For example, in 2015 the NBA set up a partnership with Twitter to create a new timeline through which to explore the NBA Finals. Twitter aggregated the best content, the jaw-dropping highlights, and the funniest/most interesting conversational pieces.
Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, has also pushed forward a very liberal approach to the league’s highlights. Instead of blocking those thundering dunks from Lebron James, the NBA believes that allowing people to share them freely will lead to more fans. And so far, it’s working. The NBA is growing at a faster pace than any other league in the country, and is doing particularly well with the coveted younger generations.
Mobile = First Screen
The NBA has recognized that more and more fans are starting to tune into their games on mobile devices. In order to draw in the smartphone crowd, the league has invested in additional cameras and has introduced the innovative “Mobile View”. Using different camera angles, this gives mobile users zoomed-in angles that are more suitable for their screens.
Not only that, but the NBA is also adding a bunch of additional features that can be experienced alongside the live game experience. Think shareable highlight clips, the ability to toggle across modes, and the ability to view real-time data and analysis on screen.
Betting on Basketball
Basketball is in the top 10 most popular and fastest growing sports in the world, both in the number of fans and players. It’s an extremely intense sport, where over 1000 matches are played in one season in the NBA alone. In a basketball game, there are numerous chances to score points – much more than in other ball games like football or hockey. Because more points are scored, it lowers the randomness factor of the game when compared to, say, betting on football. It’s also why the better team wins in basketball more often than in football. And it’s also why the best teams are likely to reach the NBA Playoffs at the end of the season.
Virtual Reality
The NBA is making significant inroads in the virtual reality arena. The idea is to bring worldwide fans courtside, no matter where they are in the world. All you need to do is wear a (slightly ridiculous) VR mask while watching the game.
The cool thing that VR lets you do is to choose your own experience. If you want to sit courtside next to Spike Lee, do it. Or would you rather have a more authentic fan experience sitting up in the nosebleed section? Also possible. It’s an immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the action.
Clearly, tech has well and truly arrived in the NBA. We’re pretty sure that if you come across a revised version of this article in a couple of years, you’ll see plenty of cool and innovative additions.