The National Basketball Association is partnering with Amazon Web Services to launch a new artificial intelligence and machine learning platform, “NBA Inside the Game.” This multi-year collaboration will leverage AWS’s cloud computing capabilities to analyze vast amounts of on-court data, generating advanced statistics and real-time insights for fans, broadcasters, and teams. The partnership extends to the WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League, and NBA Take-Two Media, with AWS becoming the official cloud and cloud AI partner for all affiliated leagues.
The platform aims to transform the fan experience by providing a deeper understanding of the game’s nuances. By processing billions of data points from the league’s player tracking system, NBA Inside the Game will deliver new AI-powered metrics through the NBA App, NBA.com, social media channels, and live broadcasts, including those on Amazon’s Prime Video. The initiative represents a significant step in the league’s efforts to innovate and enhance how basketball is watched and understood globally.
New Era of Basketball Analytics
The collaboration will introduce a suite of advanced statistics, starting with three new metrics for the 2025–26 season, all powered by AWS’s machine learning models. These metrics are derived from the league’s player tracking system, which captures 29 data points per player in real-time. The goal is to quantify aspects of the game that have been difficult to measure with traditional statistics, offering a more complete picture of player and team performance. The new stats will be integrated into live game coverage, providing fans with a level of analysis previously available only to coaches and front-office personnel. This partnership also includes the launch of “Play Finder,” an AI tool that allows users to search for similar plays across a massive database of games, providing instant context and historical comparisons.
Defensive Box Score
One of the inaugural metrics is the “Defensive Box Score,” designed to reimagine how individual defensive contributions are measured. AI algorithms will analyze player positions to identify which defender is responsible for each offensive player at any given moment. This allows for the attribution of defensive impact with greater accuracy, enhancing the traditional box score by noting the primary defender when a statistic is recorded. The system will also quantify defensive actions such as ball pressure, double teams, and switches, providing a more comprehensive view of a player’s defensive prowess.
Shot Difficulty
Another innovative statistic is “Shot Difficulty,” which goes beyond simple make-or-miss percentages to evaluate the quality of each field goal attempt. This metric introduces a new stat called Expected Field Goal Percentage (xFG%), which considers a variety of factors to estimate the probability of a shot being successful. These factors include the shooter’s stance and movement, the level of defensive pressure, and the positioning of all players on the court at the time of the shot. By quantifying the difficulty of each shot, this metric offers a more nuanced understanding of a player’s shooting skill.
Gravity
The third new metric, “Gravity,” aims to measure the off-ball influence a player has on the opposing defense. This concept, long understood by coaches and analysts, refers to how a player’s presence in a certain area of the court can draw defenders and create opportunities for teammates, even if that player doesn’t have the ball. Using custom neural networks and optical tracking data processed 60 times per second, the Gravity metric will quantify how defenders react to a player’s positioning. This will provide a tangible measure of a player’s strategic value and their ability to create space for others.
Transforming the Broadcast Experience
The integration of these new AI-powered statistics is expected to have a significant impact on how games are presented to the television audience. The partnership with AWS is part of a broader media relationship with Amazon, which includes an 11-year global media rights agreement for Prime Video to stream 67 regular-season games per year. During these broadcasts, as well as on other networks, commentators and analysts will have access to the new metrics in real-time, allowing them to provide deeper insights and more sophisticated analysis. The “Play Finder” tool will enable broadcasters to quickly pull up historical examples of similar plays, adding valuable context to the live action. This data-driven approach to storytelling is intended to make the game more accessible and engaging for both casual and dedicated fans.
Technological Infrastructure and Future Developments
The entire “NBA Inside the Game” platform will be hosted on AWS’s infrastructure, utilizing a range of its services, including Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker for the development and deployment of machine learning models. The NBA’s digital platforms, including the NBA App, NBA.com, and NBA League Pass, will also run on AWS, which is expected to enhance their performance and allow for more personalized content delivery to fans around the world. The league and AWS have indicated that the initial set of new statistics is just the beginning, with plans to introduce additional AI-powered features and metrics in future seasons. These future updates are expected to allow fans to engage with the sport in even more interactive ways, exploring the strategic decisions behind the on-court action.
Broader Implications for the League and its Partners
This partnership signifies a major step for the NBA in its ongoing efforts to embrace technology and innovation. By making advanced analytics a central part of the fan experience, the league is aiming to attract and retain a global audience in an increasingly competitive media landscape. The collaboration with AWS also provides the NBA’s teams with direct access to the machine learning models, which they can use for internal decision-making, coaching, and player development. The initiative is part of a larger trend in the sports industry, where AI and data analytics are becoming indispensable tools for gaining a competitive edge and enhancing fan engagement. The NBA’s partnership with AWS is poised to set a new standard for how technology can be used to enrich the understanding and enjoyment of professional basketball.
