During the 2026-27 NBA Brooklyn Nets home opener, the team officially announced Alibaba as its official AI and cloud partner. The year 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Nets, and the multi-year partnership will focus on artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies, providing comprehensive technical support both inside and outside the arena to enhance the fan experience. Alibaba's logo will also be featured on the Nets' new season jerseys.
According to the agreement previously announced by Alibaba Group and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, Alibaba is entering the Nets ecosystem in two capacities: as the official technology and cloud services partner, and as the Official Jersey Patch Partner. As the jersey patch partner, Alibaba will support the Nets' 60th anniversary season activities through technology-enabled fan experiences and marketing initiatives. This year-long celebration aims to honor the team's iconic players, pivotal moments, and significant milestones in its history.
Alibaba's Technology Will Enhance the Nets' Viewing Experience
On the technical side, starting from the 2026-27 season, Alibaba's AI and cloud technologies will provide a real-time 360° replay system for the Nets' home arena, Barclays Center. This system utilizes 64 cameras deployed around the suite level of Barclays Center to capture basketball actions, generating immersive 360-degree perspectives that offer fans a faster and more dimensional replay experience, along with sports tracking and tactical analysis. This technology was used during the player introductions at the opener to create visual presentations of players on four large LED screens suspended above the court.
On the interactive front, a “Nets Figure Lab” experience area powered by Alibaba technology has been set up within the venue. After fans step up to the equipment for image capture, the AI system will generate a digital avatar dressed in Nets gear within approximately 60 seconds, which can then be printed as a personalized collectible card. The card can showcase different jersey styles from various historical periods of the Nets, with special versions released on themed game days, including Lunar New Year; some cards will feature a gold basketball logo, granting holders additional prizes, including signed merchandise.