The tech behind the NBA All-Star Weekend
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YouTuber Jesser was on hand during NBA All-Star Weekend and was on the court to preside over the fan vote in the Slam Dunk contest. Photo: Ina Fried/Axios
With its All-Star Game taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in 25 years, the NBA was keen to show off its techie side.
Why it matters: The NBA has a broad global fan base, but it wants reach the next generation, many of whom spend more time on YouTube and TikTok than watching traditional television broadcasts.
Driving the news: At a tech summit on Friday — as well as at Sunday's All Star Game — the league showed off a series of robots that the local Golden State Warriors use as part of their training regime.
- The armada includes a basket on wheels that can collect rebounds and pass balls to players, other robots that can stand in as defenders and a collection of Spot robots from Boston Dynamics.
- The robot canines were in action on Sunday, tossing merchandise into the crowds.
Fun fact: NBA supplier Wilson showed off its airless 3D printed basketball designed to have the same weight and handling as a traditional ball, but without the need to ever be pumped.
- At $2,500, the current models are too pricey for the average consumer — though the product did quickly sell out online. (Check out this video from my Axios SF colleague Claire Reilly)
Between the lines: While not as flashy as the robots or the 3D-printed basketball, perhaps the most consequential tech move the league made this year was to directly incorporate a number of online influencers into the festivities.
- YouTuber Jesser joined the judges for the Slam Dunk Contest, and MrBeast staged a dramatic half-court challenge, where a college student won $100,000.
- As part of Saturday's Slam Dunk Contest, fans from around the world were able to vote on their devices, with YouTuber Jesser representing the fans on the court alongside the other four judges.
- "It was a surreal experience," Jesser told Axios in an interview moments after the contest concluded. "I couldn't stop smiling."
The big picture: The entire weekend was designed to bring fans closer to the game including ancillary events such as NBA Crossover, a fan exhibition at Moscone Center.
- There even the vertically challenged (myself included) could get in on the slam dunk action, with an augmented reality set-up that combined well-positioned cameras and a lowered hoop (4, 5 or 7-feet high) to capture the illusion. (Here's my dunk.)
- NBA Crossover was also where fans could get their hands on the 3D printed Wilson ball without having to fork over the $2,500.
- Video Game maker 2K Sports, meanwhile, had a pavilion nearby Moscone where fans could get themselves on the box cover of their NBA 2K PlayStation 5 video game.
