Amazon's NBA Inside the Game: AI Tracking Promises a New Level of Player Analytics
NBA
Amazon
AI
Sports Tech
Data Analytics
AWS
Basketball
9
Data Driven Domination
Media Hype
8/10
Real Impact
9/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
The integration of sophisticated AI into a major professional sport, combined with a substantial media rights deal, indicates a genuine shift in strategy. While AI hype is present, the long-term implications for sports analytics and fan engagement are significant, justifying a high impact score.
Article Summary
Amazon Web Services is poised to revolutionize basketball analytics with the rollout of ‘NBA Inside the Game,’ a new AI-powered platform designed to provide fans with a deeper understanding of the sport. Utilizing advanced tracking technology, the system will meticulously monitor 29 body parts of each player as they move across the court, capturing data previously unavailable. This data will then be fed into an AI system, generating key metrics such as the difficulty of a shot – quantified through shooter orientation and defender positioning – and ‘Gravity,’ representing a player’s advantageous space on the court. Further insights include a ‘Defensive Score Box’ analyzing defensive play metrics, and a powerful ‘Play Finder’ tool for searching NBA footage at the individual play level. This move builds upon existing tracking technologies used in other leagues, including Hawk-Eye in tennis and baseball, and continues Amazon’s expanded partnership with the NBA, already solidified by a landmark 11-year media rights deal. The platform’s launch marks a significant step in the application of AI within professional sports, promising a richer and more data-driven fan experience.Key Points
- NBA fans will gain access to granular player metrics beyond traditional shot success rates.
- Amazon’s AI will track 29 body parts of each player to measure movement and shot difficulty.
- The ‘NBA Inside the Game’ platform includes a ‘Play Finder’ tool for detailed play-level analysis and a ‘Defensive Score Box’.