The 2025-2026 NBA season will introduce a new analytics platform called “NBA Inside the Game,” developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This initiative aims to enhance the way basketball players and games are analyzed, providing fans with in-depth statistics related to player movements. The platform will utilize advanced motion tracking technology to monitor 29 specific body parts of each player during games, although details on which parts will be tracked remain unspecified.
The analytics will go beyond conventional stats like field goals made. New metrics, such as the Expected Field Goal Percentage, will consider various factors, including the position and pose of the shooter along with the proximity of defenders, to assess shot difficulty and predict scoring likelihood. A metric named Gravity aims to measure the advantage players create on the court by analyzing their movement in relation to defenders and how they create opportunities for teammates.
Another feature, the Defensive Score Box, will focus on defensive players by breaking down traditional stats like rebounds or blocks to evaluate their performance more comprehensively. Additionally, fans will be able to delve into specific NBA plays using a tool called Play Finder, which will enhance the viewing experience on the NBA app and website.
This new statistical approach will be integrated into live broadcasts of NBA games, reflecting a trend seen in other major sports leagues like the NFL and MLB, which also employ sophisticated tracking technologies. AWS and the NBA’s collaboration follows an earlier media rights agreement in 2024, granting AWS the role of official cloud partner for the league, which includes streaming capabilities for regular-season games on Prime Video.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/790187/amazon-aws-ai-nba-stats