The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have entered into a new multi-year partnership, establishing AWS as the league's official cloud and artificial intelligence partner. The collaboration aims to enhance the fan experience by delivering new, AI-powered statistics and insights during broadcasts and on digital platforms.
This agreement will lead to the launch of a new platform, "NBA Inside the Game, powered by AWS," which will be integrated across the NBA's digital properties, including the NBA App and NBA.com. The partnership extends to several affiliated leagues, such as the WNBA and the NBA G League.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) is now the official cloud and AI partner for the NBA and its affiliate leagues.
- A new platform called "NBA Inside the Game" will use AI to generate advanced statistics for fans.
- The partnership covers the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League, and NBA Take-Two Media.
- This deal builds on a previous 11-year agreement for Amazon Prime Video to stream NBA games starting in the 2025-2026 season.
A Comprehensive Cloud and AI Integration
Amazon Web Services announced the multi-year agreement, positioning itself as a core technology provider for the NBA. While the financial details of the partnership were not made public, the scope of the deal is extensive. AWS will serve as the official cloud partner for the NBA and its broader basketball ecosystem.
The agreement includes several major professional basketball leagues under the NBA's umbrella. These leagues are the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the NBA G League, the Basketball Africa League, and the esports league NBA Take-Two Media. This ensures that the technological advancements will be implemented across a wide range of professional basketball properties.
Building on an Existing Relationship
This technology partnership follows a major media rights deal announced previously. Starting with the 2025-2026 season, Amazon's Prime Video streaming service will broadcast NBA games as part of an 11-year agreement. The platform is set to stream 66 regular season games and will be a strategic partner for the NBA League Pass subscription service, indicating a deepening relationship between Amazon and the NBA.
Introducing 'NBA Inside the Game'
A central feature of the new partnership is the launch of "NBA Inside the Game, powered by AWS." This platform is designed to provide fans with a deeper understanding of the action on the court through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. According to the announcement, it will generate new insights into teams, players, and individual games.
These AI-powered statistics will be accessible across all of the NBA's digital channels. Fans will be able to find this new content on the official NBA App, the league's website at NBA.com, and its various social media platforms. The goal is to make advanced analytics more accessible and engaging for the average viewer.
What Fans Can Expect
The integration of AWS's machine learning capabilities is expected to produce a new generation of basketball statistics. While specific metrics were not detailed, similar applications in sports often include:
- Real-time Shot Probability: Calculating the likelihood of a shot being successful based on player position, defender proximity, and historical data.
- Advanced Player Metrics: Analyzing player efficiency, court spacing, and defensive impact in ways not captured by traditional box scores.
- Predictive Analytics: Generating insights on potential game outcomes and key player matchups based on live game data.
- Automated Video Highlights: Using AI to identify and package key moments in a game for instant replay and social media distribution.
Strategic Vision for the Future of Basketball
Both organizations highlighted the potential for cloud technology and AI to transform how basketball is consumed and understood. The partnership is framed as a forward-looking initiative to push the boundaries of sports entertainment.
"At AWS, we’re excited by the NBA’s vision to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports," said AWS executive Francessca Vasquez in a statement. "This partnership will showcase how cloud and AI can reimagine the game of basketball—from generating new insights to creating experiences that bring fans closer to the game they love."
The collaboration reflects a broader trend in professional sports, where leagues are increasingly leveraging data and advanced technology to create more immersive and personalized experiences for their global fan bases. By using AWS's extensive cloud infrastructure, the NBA aims to process vast amounts of game data quickly and deliver new content to fans in real time.
The Growing Role of AI in Sports
Artificial intelligence is being adopted across many professional sports leagues. Its applications range from player performance tracking and injury prevention to automated officiating and personalized content delivery for fans. This partnership between the NBA and AWS is one of the most significant integrations of AI at a league-wide level to date.
As the partnership rolls out, fans can anticipate seeing new statistical graphics during game broadcasts and more in-depth analytical content on digital platforms. The initiative represents a significant investment by the NBA in the future of its digital product and its ability to engage with a tech-savvy audience. The long-term goal is to use data not just to describe the game, but to tell a richer, more compelling story about the action on the court.
