The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have entered into a multi-year partnership to introduce advanced AI-powered statistics for basketball fans. The collaboration aims to enhance the viewing experience by providing real-time analytics and deeper insights into player performances and game strategies.
A new platform, NBA Inside the Game powered by AWS, will launch across all NBA digital channels, including the NBA App, NBA.com, and social media platforms. This system uses AWS’s artificial intelligence capabilities to deliver live stats during games. Fans will have access to these features not only on traditional broadcasts but also during games streamed on Prime Video.
Prime Video has secured an 11-year deal with the NBA and WNBA to be the exclusive streaming service for 66 regular-season NBA games each year starting in 2025. The agreement also includes coverage of events like the Emirates NBA Cup and playoff matches, as well as WNBA games from 2026 onward.
AWS is now recognized as the official cloud and cloud AI partner of the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League, and NBA Take-Two Media. Ken DeGennaro, executive vice president and Head of Media Operations and Technology at the NBA stated: “Partnering with AWS provides us with an opportunity to elevate the live game experience through innovation and offer fans a deeper understanding of the game of basketball for years to come. AWS has a proven track record of delivering unique statistical insights and offering transformative experiences that will resonate with NBA fans around the world.”
Francessca Vasquez, vice president of Professional Services & Agentic AI at AWS added: "At AWS, we’re excited by the NBA’s vision to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports. 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 advanced statistics platform developed under this partnership analyzes player tracking data using optical systems that monitor up to 29 body parts per athlete in real time. This enables detailed analysis such as Defensive Box Score metrics—which track individual defensive actions missed by conventional stats—Shot Difficulty measurements quantifying factors influencing shot success rates like positioning or defensive pressure, and Gravity metrics assessing how much attention players draw from defenders even when off-ball.
Additionally, Play Finder is being introduced as an AI-driven tool enabling granular searchability within thousands of recorded plays. Using services such as Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker from AWS infrastructure, it helps broadcasters identify offensive strategies based on outcomes paired with analytics while alerting commentators about significant moments or patterns during live coverage.
These innovations are expected not only to benefit viewers but also support teams’ coaching staff in analyzing film more efficiently throughout seasons. Future updates may expand generative AI integrations for even greater fan interactivity via league apps.