There is nothing quite like sitting close to an NBA floor. It really enhances the experience of watching a basketball game. You can hear the players chirp at each other, get a better look at the physicality, and be right in the thick of the action when a show-stopping moment happens.
Those seats are hard to get your hands on, and with the NBA’s global fan base, you can’t always just go see your favorite team live. For example, I’m based in Kansas City and can’t see every San Antonio Spurs game in person. Thanks to Meta Quest and Xtadium, I was able to sit courtside for the Spurs game against the Dallas Mavericks – all from the comfort of my own home over 800 miles away, in virtual reality.
Xtadium / Meta
The NBA partnered with Meta to stream 52 games on League Pass in 180-degree VR. Monday night’s game was the last chance Spurs fans had to catch the game in VR. The viewer is dropped right in the action with three camera angles: one from the sideline, another underneath the hoop, and a higher-up view that allows you to capture the game in an angle similar to the broadcast. On top of pumping in the audio from the arena, they also include the sounds of the broadcast, so I got to listen to Sean Elliott and Jacob Tobey call the game while I saw the game up close.
I joined the game a bit early and got to see the player introductions in the arena for the first time. It was fun to see the players prepping to have their names called. In a funny pre-game tradition, a trio of Spurs bench players, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Malaki Branham, and Julian Champagnie, all lifted Stephon Castle into the air while he jumped to pull off a sort of super dunk before the starter’s names were called. It was a fun wrinkle that showed the camaraderie of the team that I would have missed in the normal broadcast.
I was immediately struck by the audio experience in VR when the game started. This was especially interesting when players went to the free-throw line. During the game, the camera would jump to whatever angle made the most sense for the given play. Free throws sent the camera to the baseline, where I could hear everything. On De’Aaron Fox’s first free throws of the game, I could hear Dallas’ Naji Marshall complain to the Spurs point guard about a foul call he thought was weak.
Later in the game, after a defensive miscommunication by Castle, I saw Keldon Johnson get on the rookie for his mistake. I could hear Castle try to explain himself while KJ retorted, “You’re better than that, Steph.” It felt like being a fly on the wall in a private conversation I’m not usually privy to. That alone was a huge enhancement of the viewing experience and gave me a better appreciation of the team’s dynamic.
I also stared into Spencer Dinwiddie’s eyes when he yelled “AND-ONE” at an official, which eventually led to a technical foul. To be fair to the Mavs guard, I don’t think he deserved it.
Visually, the experience is a lot like just watching a regular game. There was almost no lag on the stream, so it often felt like I was watching the game, turning my head to follow the action rather than taking it all in from afar. Up close like this, it was easier to tell when players like Devin Vassell had the space to take a three or drive to the lane (he was WIDE open in the first quarter when he scored 14 points). That nuance can be lost on traditional broadcasts. My only regret is I wasn’t able to see Victor Wembanyama play up close. I kept wondering how much his size would have stood out in VR.
If I have any complaints, it would be the automatic cutting to different angles during the game. Sometimes, I’d lose track of the play because the camera would automatically switch from the baseline to the sideline view. Having some sort of use control over this feature would greatly enhance the experience.
If you’re interested in seeing an NBA game in VR, there will be 14 more games streamed free on NBA League Pass in the Xtadium app. If you have access to a Meta headset, I’d recommend giving it a shot. It was one of the coolest virtual experiences I’ve had as a sports fan.
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