NBA China has announced a long-term partnership with Alibaba Cloud, officially naming the company its Cloud Computing and AI Partner. This collaboration will reshape how fans in China watch, interact with, and experience NBA content through advanced AI and cloud technology.
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud will build innovative digital tools to enhance live game experiences. It will also focus on increasing fan interaction during major events like the NBA All-Star, Playoffs, and Finals.
Next-Gen AI Tools for NBA Fans in China
The league plans to use Alibaba Cloud’s advanced AI to create a more personalized fan experience. A custom-built AI model, based on Alibaba’s Qwen series, will be trained with NBA’s digital archives. This technology will power the NBA App in China, delivering instant highlights and historic stats. It will also provide in-depth player insights and enable interactive basketball discussions in real time.
Fans will get an early glimpse of these innovations at the NBA China Games 2025. Alibaba Cloud will introduce its Real-Time 360 Replay Solution, which uses AI to track player movements. The system will generate spherical, high-quality replays of key moments. In addition, fans will be able to create NBA-themed avatars and personalized commentary clips using Qwen’s voice replication technology.
Strengthening Digital Infrastructure
In a major digital shift, NBA China will migrate its platforms—including its app, official website, and mini-programs—to Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure. This move will improve speed, strengthen security, and deliver a smoother experience. Moreover, the league will use Alibaba’s data analytics tools to gain smarter insights and deepen fan engagement.
Meanwhile, Alibaba’s consumer AI apps, Quark and Tongyi, will join the partnership as official marketing partners. This step will help extend NBA China’s digital reach across multiple platforms.
Leadership Remarks on the Partnership
The collaboration was announced ahead of the NBA China Games 2025, presented by Taobao 88VIP. The preseason matchups will feature the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns in Macao. Alibaba Group chairman and Brooklyn Nets Governor Joe Tsai shared:
“It is an exciting time at the intersection of sports and technology. AI and cloud technologies are enablers of connection—between player and fan, brand and consumer, global vision and local culture. By collaborating with NBA China and introducing Alibaba’s latest innovations, we are here to excite NBA fans through the enablement of exceptional experiences that they’ve never seen before.”
NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum added: “Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud reflects our commitment to using the latest technology to engage the hundreds of millions of NBA fans in China in new and creative ways. We look forward to working with Alibaba Cloud to transform how fans across the country watch and experience the game in the years to come.”
A New Chapter for the NBA in China
This partnership highlights how AI is transforming sports. By working with Alibaba Cloud, NBA China aims to deliver immersive, data-driven, and highly interactive experiences. With this step, the league is opening a new chapter of digital fan engagement in China.
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