The National Basketball Association (NBA) has some of the most passionate fan communities in
the sporting world, and the number of people who tune into the games proves it.
Over last season, the NBA set in-person attendance records, drawing a total of 22.5 million fans
and selling out 71% of games. Many of these fans enjoy the sport beyond watching their favorite
team compete on the court; they engage with the rest of the community, share their insights, and
analyze player and team performances for a deeper understanding of the sport.
Technology has helped make this level of engagement and participation more accessible and
convenient. Fans can easily connect with players, teams, and fellow fans or consume NBA
content anywhere and anytime, thanks to social media, apps, and much more. Innovations on and
off the court are also rapidly advancing; fans can leverage these advancements to stay updated
and engaged.
So without further ado, here’s how technology has improved NBA fan participation:
NBA app
Mobile apps are a convenient and easy way to access the latest news and insights on all things
NBA, and technology is helping engage fans and immerse them into the basketball world even
further. In 2022, the NBA partnered with Microsoft to launch the NBA App to connect more fans
to the game.
Microsoft’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technology offers a more customized experience
when fans sign up to the app, showing video highlights and other NBA-produced content based
on their favorite teams, players, and other information. The AI combines data from the game with
insights from fans to deliver engaging content and helps them learn more about basketball from
these insights.
Fans can also connect to NBA League Pass and NBA TV on the app, allowing them to watch live
games and pregame and postgame NBA press conferences. By offering NBA fans an easy way to
watch NBA content and keep up with the latest updates through a curated experience, they can
stay engaged and connected to the game.
Betting technologies
In the early days, people often had to read the newspaper to determine the odds and call a bookie
to place bets on their behalf. Now, technology has made it possible to place your bets, withdraw
your winnings, and stay updated with the best NBA betting odds, all from a single device.
Leading betting platform Thunderpick helps you see the best lines for pre-match and live in-play
betting markets and monitor upcoming NBA events to keep track of your favorite teams and
players. You’re no longer limited to cash or card either; you can also bet with crypto like Bitcoin,
enabling fast transactions, enhanced privacy, and more autonomy and control over your funds.
Bettors can also leverage tools like AI or machine learning. Betting involves a lot of in-depth
analysis to make smart decisions, and AI can streamline this process by analyzing historical data
and real-time information to generate accurate betting odds. Machine learning tools like BetSense
learn from an individual’s patterns and interests and use the information to create more
personalization. Betting technologies allow NBA fans to keep track of the teams and amp up the
thrill of watching and betting on a game.
In-depth tracking
Watching NBA teams face off on the court is already an exhilarating experience, but many fans
also enjoy analyzing various aspects of the game, from calls to the players’ performance.
Technology offers fans a more in-depth look at the NBA games and teams they love, helping
them understand and immerse themselves better into the sport.
The NBA recently partnered with Hawk-Eye Innovations, a company known for its motion
capture technology in the sports world. Their tech will be available to players, coaches, and fans,
who can now get a more detailed view of the arena, the players, and even the ball. The system
uses 14 cameras placed around the arena, tracking 29 points on players’ bodies as well as the ball
in full 3D and near-real time.
This tech helps capture the most minute details, such as sprint speed, pass speed and shot arc, so
players can get a more accurate picture of the game and the player’s moves to form more precise
analyses. Accessing this data and statistics allows fans to increase participation in every match
and foster an in-depth understanding of the teams and players they’re rooting for. It can also
encourage more community discussions and fan opinions and suggestions.
If you want some additional reading, why not check out some fan insights in our “Opinion: NBA
needs an NHL-style tournament for their All-Star Game” post?
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