Abdelrahman
The NBA has unveiled a cutting-edge augmented reality feature for its Vision Pro app, named Tabletop. This innovative addition allows fans to enjoy a floating replica of a basketball court in their own environment during selected live games, as detailed on the NBA support page. On this virtual court, digital avatars faithfully represent the actual players, mirroring their movements, passes, and shots. However, this feature is only accessible for live matches available through NBA League Pass.
Moreover, Tabletop can be utilized for local market games that typically lack video streaming options within the app. In my experience testing it during a local game, I observed a delay of approximately 45 seconds behind the announcer’s commentary. Notably, Vision Pro user Justin Ryan successfully synchronized his feed with only a half-second delay by using a toolbar feature. Unfortunately, I found that the feature was not available for out-of-market games, limiting my experience to an audio feed.
Each player is represented by a consistent avatar, designed either as a robot or in a cell-shaded cartoon style, making it easy to identify them by their jersey colors, names, and numbers. When a player possesses the ball, their name prominently appears above their head. When I inquired about the feature’s availability for the upcoming NBA All-Star events, the NBA had not yet provided a response. I captured a video demonstration of the feature on my Vision Pro, which is accompanied by a timestamp linking to a similar moment in a highlights reel the NBA shared post-game.
Tabletop bears a resemblance to the functionality the Lapz Vision Pro app provided for Formula 1 events before it was discontinued by F1. If you are a subscriber to NBA League Pass and own a Vision Pro device, keep an eye out for the new Tabletop button located alongside the standard “Watch Live” and “Multiview” options in the NBA app.
Surprisingly, my experience with Tabletop showcased its polished execution for an alpha feature. The NBA has previously demonstrated various mixed reality technologies in other presentations, such as NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s demonstration featuring a 3D scan of sports commentator Ahmad Rashad, illustrating how technology can innovate viewer engagement in sports.
