INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NBA has used artificial intelligence for some time. It helps the league create real-time highlights, assists referees when determining if a goaltending has occurred, translates play-by-play into multiple languages and even the league’s official app. Gives strength.
And more is undoubtedly on the way.
The league unveiled NB-AI, technology that the league says will “personalize the live game viewing experience,” at the annual All-Star Tech Summit on Friday. Commissioner Adam Silver opened the event by showing some examples of how it would work and brought out San Antonio rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Victor Wimbanyama to help.
Among the highlights: taking real NBA game clips and making them look like a Spider-Man movie.
“Today, AI is generating the same excitement we saw in the early days of the Internet,” Silver said. “Intuitively, most of us realize that artificial intelligence is going to change our lives. The question, at least for me, is ‘how?’
At a rehearsal for the Tech Summit on Thursday, Wembanyama got a glimpse of the latest technology.
“It’s unbelievable,” Wembanyama said. “It’s still early days. Only the future will tell how it will play out.”
Slam dunk contest
McCulling’s life changed dramatically last year when he won the dunk contest on All-Star Saturday Night.
And now he’s trying to do it again.
McClung, who plays for the Osceola Magic of the G League, is trying to join Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson and Zach LaVine as the only back-to-back dunk contest champions. He will face Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Miami’s Jaime Jacquez Jr. and New York’s Jacob Toppin on Saturday night.
“I think I’m more nervous this time, I think it adds a little bit of pressure,” McClung said. “But I’m just reminding myself to have fun with it. We’ve worked so hard so hopefully it all pays off.”
McClung didn’t drop many hints as to what he expected the 35,000 fans to attend Saturday night’s feature at Lucas Oil Stadium — other than to suggest paying attention to replays.
How did his life change?
“Going to airports and going out to eat (out) is a little different right now, but for the most part it’s all good things,” McClung said.
Brown is the first All-Star in the Dunk Contest since 2018.
San Antonio forward Jeremy Suchon said the last couple of dunk contests, there’s no All-Star or one of the top players in the league to do it. “I think if they do that, maybe the All-Stars and the best players in the league will come back and start a dunk contest.”
Jockeys said his decision-making process for entering the competition was simple: The NBA called and asked, and he said yes.
“It was that simple,” Jacquez said.
CHET’s debut
Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren missed every game last season. He hasn’t missed a beat this season, and was making his All-Star Weekend debut at the Rising Stars event on Friday.
“It’s a blessing to be here,” Holmgren said. “I’m completely grateful. I don’t take any of it for granted, especially knowing it could be taken away at any moment.”
Ascot, Round 3
Most of the 28 players to suit up for Friday’s Rising Stars games are All-Star Weekend rookies. Three — Indiana Pacers guard Benedict Maturin, Sacramento Kings forward Keagan Murray and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler — are in Indy for encore performances after earning first-team All-Rookie honors last season.
Yet the most experienced player at the Games is 20-year-old Scott Henderson. The Portland Trail Blazers rookie played each of the last two seasons playing for the G League Elite, and he could return next year for an unprecedented fourth appearance.
“The first two years, we didn’t have to come here,” he said. “They were huge opportunities, especially for the G League and the Elite. So, I appreciate the opportunity. … I think my mindset coming into it is to come out there and be myself.
Clark fan
If Caitlin Clark — now the NCAA all-time Division I women’s scoring leader — enters this year’s WNBA draft, she will likely head to Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever have the No. 1 overall pick and could pair Clark with Rookie of the Year Aaliyah Boston.
Pacers wing Benedict Maturin wants to see it happen.
“It would be an amazing thing,” Maturin said when asked about Clark coming to Indy. “He’s a great player. He’s unbelievable. It’s going to be amazing for him to come to Indy.
Refs
All-Star Weekend isn’t just for the players. Some referees are also invited to be a part of the event.
The NBA has selected Toney Brothers, Josh Tevin and Derrick Collins as the crew for Sunday’s All-Star Game. Odds are they won’t have to do much more than mark 3-pointers — last year’s All-Star Game totaled seven fouls and four free throws. Donovan Mitchell took 2 wickets. Jayson Tatum went 1 for 2.
Also selected to handle the Rising Stars Games and All-Star Saturday Night — John Butler, Brett Nansel and Jenna Schroeder.
Noteworthy
San Antonio rookie and No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanayama discussed his progress and development Friday, saying: “I’ve been told not to step down all my life, but that hasn’t stopped me from climbing the stairs.”
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Associated Press writer Mark Ambrogi contributed to this report.
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