NBA China and Alibaba Cloud have announced a multiyear collaboration to use artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies to enhance the ways fans in China experience and engage with NBA games.
The partnership establishes Alibaba Cloud as the Official Cloud Computing and AI Partner of NBA China, with the intention to create new applications to improve live viewing and other forms of fan engagement. These enhancements will be featured not only during the regular season, but also in major league events such as NBA All-Star, the NBA Playoffs and the Finals.
Replay technology
One of the technological initiatives under this collaboration includes the debut of Alibaba Cloud’s Real-Time 360 Replay Solution at The NBA China Games 2025. The new system leverages Alibaba’s AI algorithms to track player movements and generate a high-quality, multi-angle visual presentation of highlights during basketball matches. This enables fans to experience key plays through a spherical, dynamic view, potentially transforming how replays are presented to viewers in China.
The Real-Time 360 Replay Solution will be showcased during the NBA China Games 2025, which will see the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns play preseason games at The Venetian Arena in Macao. The games are scheduled as part of the annual event series that brings NBA teams to China ahead of the season.
AI and cloud-driven experiences
As part of the wider collaboration, NBA China will make use of Alibaba Cloud’s AI and cloud computing services to deliver a broad suite of digital fan engagement initiatives. A key aspect of the agreement is the development of a proprietary AI model for NBA China, built using Alibaba’s Qwen series of foundational AI models. This model will be tailored and fine-tuned using the NBA’s digital assets, enabling it to provide content such as real-time game highlights, access to historical basketball data, insights relating to players, and interactive discussions about trending basketball topics to users of the NBA App in China.
The partnership also reflects the growing role of technology in sports engagement, especially within China’s significant NBA fan base, which numbers in the hundreds of millions. Both organisations have highlighted their shared aim of delivering new digital experiences and interactions for these fans.
Executive commentary
“It is an exciting time at the intersection of sports and technology,” said Joe Tsai, Chairman of Alibaba Group and Governor of the Brooklyn Nets. “AI and cloud technologies are enablers of connection-between player and fan, brand and consumer, global vision and local culture. By collaborating with NBA China and introducing Alibaba’s latest innovations, we are here to excite NBA fans through the enablement of exceptional experiences that they’ve never seen before.”
“Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud reflects our commitment to using the latest technology to engage the hundreds of millions of NBA fans in China in new and creative ways,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to working with Alibaba Cloud to transform how fans across the country watch and experience the game in the years to come.”
The companies have reiterated their intention to continue exploring further uses of AI and cloud computing to deliver digital basketball experiences in China through upcoming NBA seasons and events.