The NBA, which formed in 1949 when two rival basketball leagues (the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America) merged together is one of the hottest sports leagues of the planet. The main NBA league consists of 30 teams split into two conferences, each consisting of three divisions. These teams play the others in their division four times; six other teams in the same conference 24 games in total; the remaining teams in the conference 12 times; and other teams in the conference 30 times. The top eight teams in each conference then do battle in the post season playoffs, and the winners of each conference meet in the best-of-seven NBA finals.
An array of stars, fast-paced games, a strong social media presence and powerful marketing have all helped the NBA to achieve massive popularity. The organization has always looked to improve games and engage fans even more, and is harnessing lots of technological innovations. Below is a look at five of them.
VU sporting cameras
Managers, coaches and executives no longer have to feel alone when making decisions. VU sporting cameras are a tracking and identification system that record the location of players, referees and balls during a game. The NBA gleans incredible amounts of data from the system that can support its decisions. The VU sporting cameras system has also helped to make following the NBA more engaging for basketball enthusiasts and anyone who is into sports betting.
Mobile devices
The days of using the white board and erasable marker pen are long gone now. Use of tablets, smartphones and other devices has become standard as coaches ditch them in favor of these types of technology that have more options. It’s common to see coaches working with them on the sidelines during games.
Although social media usage is big in the NBA, the use of mobile devices stretches further than tweeting on Twitter or posting on Facebook. It’s now suggested that coaches make use of the devices to create a live changing room environment so that they can analyze errors and put them right for a better performance from the team. Sportsbooks have also taken advantage of this and offer live NBA player props based on how the game is going.
The fast-paced games of the NBA have helped it to attract a legion of fans, and smart usage of technological innovations has enabled the organization and its popularity to grow even more. Other technological innovations that have boosted the popularity and excitement of the NBA and engagement with the league include mobile apps, social media and on demand viewing.
Shot clock
The shot clock has been a major piece of technology that has helped to games become much more exciting. Decades ago, games ran the dangerous risk of sending players to sleep with boredom because teams would use different strategies to keep possession and waste time. This would drag games out.
Then came the shot clock, which gives players only 24 seconds to take a shot if they’re on the attack. If the team doesn’t shoot for a basket in this time, the referee hands the ball over to the other team. The shot clock has made the game much more exciting because it forces players to make their decisions more quickly and execute plays more efficiently. Now they push the ball up court more and look for more scoring opportunities.
Wearable technology
Many NBA players have wearable sensors and microchips fitted to their vests now, which allows technical teams to monitor data such as player workload, leaping, acceleration, player progress and other data items. Heart monitors, replay analyzers and shot trackers have become other essential tools for teams. The tech enables team to use their athletes more effectively and help them to avoid injury. They can evaluate workloads and detect and minimize injury. Naturally, keeping players healthy benefits the teams, but it likewise does the fans as well so they can see their players in action more frequently.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology
The NBA is incorporating the use of VR and AR into a lot of its operations, which is helping players to improve and enabling teams to interact between with fans. One of the pioneers in the use of this type of technology in the NBA has been the Washington Wizards, who have implemented VR headsets so that players can practice the mental aspects of the game. Some players have enhanced their free throw shooting using a VR program.
The technology has given teams flexibility and greater options when it comes to devising training regimes. Teams can simulate game situations and recreate complex tactics more accurately. Players, especially young players, have access to training tools they never had before that will allow them to develop.
