The Most Important Tech Advances that Changed the NBA
With the 2023/24 NBA season over and the 2024/25 season set to begin in October, now is a good time to reflect on the history of the sport: the NBA started in 1946, nearly 80 years ago. And, in the intervening eight decades, a lot has changed about the league.
While these changes have been influenced by culture, economics, and business, the biggest driving factor of change has been technology. Tech has completely shaped the modern game of basketball as we know it. From wearable body sensors to instant replays, how the game is played, viewed, and judged has totally been revolutionized by it.
This guide will pinpoint the ten most important tech advances in the NBA.
Online gambling
Online sports betting had a surprisingly big impact on the NBA. Up until recently, sports betting remained illegal in many US states. Even today, several states do not permit brick-and-mortar sports betting facilities. This meant that a large part of the population missed out on one of the most exciting aspects of the sport.
The introduction of online sports betting increased national engagement levels in the NBA. Sports fans were no longer just obsessed with watching the game, but also with how many rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals were made. Basically, the introduction of online gambling and prop betting made every aspect of the game a lot more interesting to a larger number of people.
As Graziella Calleja points out in this Bitcoin betting article, mobile and online sports gambling also allows spectators to make live bets while the game is in play. Live betting odds are updated in real-time, which makes sports betting totally unpredictable. Plus, with the recent advent of crypto gambling, online sports betting now offers faster deposits and withdrawals.
Wearable technology
From an analytical and tactical point of view, wearable tech has changed the game of basketball completely. Today, NBA players can wear technology that analyzes their heart rate, breathing rate, speed, rotation, jump height, hang time, acceleration, and so on.
All this information is fed back to the team’s technical bench, who then analyzes the data. Through analysis, teams can make evidence-based decisions on the court. For example, if a player is moving too slowly, they can be substituted for a faster player.
The overall health of a player can be monitored and potential injuries can be detected sooner. The tech can also monitor and support injured players’ recovery.
Best of all, these microchips are fitted seamlessly onto players’ vests and don’t create discomfort in play.
SportVU
In-game analysis has been further advanced thanks to SportVU. This is a camera system that can capture players’ movements more precisely than ever before. Cameras are positioned all over the sporting arena in order to capture shots of the players, the ball, and the hoops from all angles.
These cameras collect data 25 times per second, ensuring that the data that is fed back to the technical bench is as accurate as possible. This provides the exact X and Y coordinates of all players, which is vital for ensuring that strict formations and game tactics are being followed.
If the technical bench notices that a specific player isn’t playing where they should, specific instructions can be given to them on how to improve their gameplay.
At the same time, SportVU data can provide information on the rival team. This can help the technical bench identify weaknesses in the competition and come up with formation ideas to take advantage of these weaknesses.
All of this information can be analyzed from the comfort of a mobile device or tablet. Mobile devices, in their own right, have also revolutionized the NBA.
Instant replays and video reviews
The job of the NBA referee has become a whole lot easier thanks to the development of instant replay and video review technology. If a referee is unsure about whether or not a ball went out of bounds or if a player committed a foul, all they have to do is review the instant replay footage to make an informed decision.
Before, even the most experienced of referees made some questionable decisions when it came to officiating. Basketball is a fast-paced game, and it can be extremely difficult to keep your eye on the ball at all times. Now, referees have no excuse, as they can rely on technology to capture all moves. This ensures that all NBA games are played as fairly as possible.
Final thoughts
NBA today is more exciting, accurate, and fair thanks to technological advancements in the game of basketball. Online gambling sites made the sport more accessible and exciting for all. It helped basketball become the second most popular sport in the US, with 51% of sports fans watching it.
Wearable technology and SportVU, on the other hand, improved in-game analysis. Finally, instant replays increased the accuracy of referee decision-making.
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