All-Star action is nearly underway in the NBA, and it's going to feature all of the flashing lights. Quite literally.
For All-Star weekend in Indianapolis — which begins Feb. 16 — the NBA will use a lit-up LED floor that's sure to create some excellent moments during one of the league's marquee events.
The league promised the court will be used to show live replays, provide location-based player tracking and use immersive animations during events, among other things.
Here's a quick look at that.
This isn't the first time an LED court has been implemented during a sporting event.
FIBA used the ASB GlassFloor-made floor during the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023. The concept drew a lot of positive feedback, so it only makes sense to re-use it again in the NBA.
This isn't something new to the NBA's thought process, either. Carlton Myers, the NBA head of live production and entertainment, told Forbes on Monday the league has been looking at LED courts for "about eight years."
“Now the technology is there, and we feel really comfortable with it,” he said. “Now is the time to do it.”
Myers is looking forward to the effect it will have for the fan experience.
“What we are doing with it and how we are using it is pretty groundbreaking, and pretty exciting for the fans,” said Myers. “Things that would normally appear on a jumbotron will now appear on the floor alongside the live action.”
Several events will take place on the LED court, including Feb. 16 All-Star Celebrity Game and Feb. 17’s Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Challenge and Slam Dunk event.
Myers describes the capabilities of the flooring of the court as "limitless."
“You can use any graphics you want," he said. "Any design you want you can put on there. We zeroed in on making it very dynamic at times, but also wanted to make it very bold with the colors, so you automatically realize, ‘wow, this is different.’”