New NBA stats deal will put motion tracking cameras in every arena
The NBA faces a big challenge now that it offers all its player statistics to the public -- how does it generate stats that hold the interest of basketball fans? The league's solution is a multi-year agreement to use Stats LLC's SportVU motion tracking system in every arena (15 teams had already implemented the technology on their own). As of the 2013-14 season, every NBA arena will have a six-camera setup that creates a steady stream of player data based on ball possession, distance, proximity and speed. The NBA's website, NBA Game Time and NBA TV will all use the information to expand game stats beyond what we see today with heat maps and specific details on each possession. There's no telling how useful that extra knowledge will be, but we won't be shocked if it helps settle a few sports bar arguments.
[Image credit: Rondo Estrello, Rondostar.com / Flickr]
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NBA partners with Stats LLC for tracking technology
NEW YORK and NORTHBROOK, IIl. -- The NBA and STATS LLC on Thursday announced they have expanded their partnership to install STATS' SportVU Player Tracking technology in every NBA arena beginning with the 2013-14 season. The multiyear agreement will make the NBA the first major U.S. professional sports league to quantify and analyze every movement of live game action throughout the entire season.
As the Official Player Tracking Partner of the NBA, STATS' SportVU -- a system of six cameras and STATS' proprietary software -- will be used by all 30 NBA teams during games to calibrate and measure the movements of all players and the ball on the court. The groundbreaking system will provide a continuous stream of innovative statistics based around speed, distance, player separation, and ball possession for detailed and targeted analysis of players and teams.
The NBA Game Time app, NBA.com and NBA TV will use SportVU player tracking data, enhancing the league's current statistical offerings and providing fans with the most comprehensive breakdown of every game.
"We are a league driven by data, and our expanded partnership with STATS provides our teams and fans with access to uncover groundbreaking statistics," said Steve Hellmuth, NBA Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology. "In this new era of statistical information, SportVU will be an invaluable resource for basketball executives and our passionate fans."
"STATS is proud to partner with the NBA to provide a whole new perspective on the sport through state-of-the art player tracking data for every game. With SportVU, the new vernacular of the NBA will be speed profiles, offensive play types, defensive matchups and court coverage maps," said STATS CEO Gary Walrath. "We look forward to growing with the NBA and expanding the use of SportVU."
The NBA's use of SportVU enhances a long-standing partnership between the NBA and STATS. STATS has been the league's Official Data Distribution Partner since 2006, disseminating complete NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League statistical information to broadcast, print and online outlets around the world.
