PlexNex: NBA

Reviewing my notes this morning from yesterday's meeting with officials at the NBA, I had to pick my jaw up off the desk.

Attending:
David Stern, Commissioner
Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner
Steve Hellmuth, Senior VP Operations & Technology
Mike Bass, Head of Public Relations

Apparently people don't ask too often how the NBA uses technology in the context of its business.

I asked the room, addressing no one in particular --

"What business are you in? Is this a media business? Is this an information business?"

The ~~cuddly~~ pugnacious Commissioner injected, not without emphasis --

"I'm gonna push back. CONTENT. STATISTICS. PHOTOGRAPHY. VIDEO. WORDS. COMMUNITY. COMMERCE."

Adam Silver later added some interesting observations about the unusual number of technology entreprenuers who own basketball franchises. It's surely no accident...and I'm going to explore a few possible answers.

Technology & sport are intimates, but basketball by its nature is a special technology puller. What suprised me when access opened up was the extent to which basketball exemplifies the globalizing business.

The FT will be covering in February three sports and their involvement with technology.