NBA, Turner Team Up With Magic Leap To Create Augmented-Reality Experiences

Fans will be able to watch NBA games with data overlaid on the action

Magic Leap has announced a partnership with the NBA and Turner to create a new sports-viewing experience via the Magic Leap One augmented-reality headset (set to launch later this year) and a newly created NBA App, which will be available through the platform. The partnership of Magic Leap, the NBA, and Turner was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz during Recode’s Code Media conference in Huntington Beach, CA.

Shaquille O’Neal sports Magic Leap’s mixed-reality headset.

Using Magic Leap’s Screens platform, fans will be able to summon multiple virtual screens into their field of view. When paired with Magic Leap’s Digital Lightfield technology and spatial computing, these screens can be shown at any size and in any location combined with supplemental graphics that allow fans to enjoy their favorite stats, replays, and commentary without missing the game action. Magic Leap makes this possible with spatial computing, seamlessly blending the digital and physical worlds to deliver new forms of engagement for consumers.

With Magic Leap, fans will be able to watch NBA games with new features that overlay data into their sport-viewing experience, with screens placed all around their environment. For example, Magic Leap has used volumetric capture to bring a life-size Shaquille O’Neal presence right into a user’s living room. At launch, the app will have a curated list of archived NBA games featuring the high-profile matchups from recent seasons, as well as a selection of highlight clips of popular teams and players.

In addition, Magic Leap is “working towards bringing the live NBA game experience to Magic Leap One,” according to a blog post by Abovitz.

The NBA, Turner, and Magic Leap have already begun collaborating on these AR experiences, and, through the Magic Leap Screens platform, users will soon have more features and intimate experiences. The NBA App is in development for Magic Leap One, with the NBA and Turner working as key content partners going forward.