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NBA All-Star: Adam Silver & Victor Wembanyama Turn Tech Geeks In Playful Banter Over The Power of AI 

Published 02/16/2024, 12:55 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Fans across the globe have been promised a variety of exciting competitions and events lined up for the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. With the fan-favorite weekend now underway, the league brings us the NBA All-Star Tech Summit, a special event to delve into the impact of AI on sports and its influence on the human experience. With it comes the NB-AI, an AI-powered technology that can enhance the experience of NBA fans, be it watching a live NBA game in movie mode or customizing a game based on any theme.

This mindblowing technology was unveiled by league Commissioner Adam Silver alongside the Spurs‘ rookie Victor Wembanyama. Yes, the 7’4″ Frenchman is a tech geek who was all too happy to be part of this revolutionary exhibit.

As part of the demonstration, Wemby, who is a huge fan of Spiderman, asks Silver to prompt the NB-AI to show an NBA game in the style of a Spiderman movie, and viola, it delivered! Watch it for yourself in the X post below. The NBA uploaded the clip with the caption, “Adam Silver and Wemby unveil NB-AI at NBA All-Star Tech Summit in Indy – now you can use your voice to activate “movie mode” and make a live NBA game look like your favorite film.”

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During the past seasons, Silver has also actively dabbled in the future of fan engagement through the use of AI. At the 2019 NBA All-Star Tech Summit, he unveiled the color-changing jerseys, and in 2023, introduced an immersive gaming experience for fans where they can “scan their own avatar into a live NBA game via the NBA App and replace an NBA player.” Well this time, Wemby made the most of the occasion and put his Spiderman craze to good use.

Wemby arrived with Spiderman look to Toronto

On Monday, the San Antonio Spurs made a stop at the Scotiabank Arena to play their second game against the Toronto Raptors. Wemby arrived at the arena sporting a special pregame outfit. He wore a completely black outfit and topped it off with a black ski mask and goggles, resembling a ‘noir’ Spiderman outfit. However, the rookie’s outfit wasn’t the only thing turning heads on Monday.

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Wemby recorded a whopping 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocks in the game, achieving a rare triple-double feat. Normally, triple-doubles are linked to points, rebounds, and assists. But the Frenchman’s incredible numbers put him up among the NBA greats, as the only 26th player in the league’s history to achieve double-digit blocks. His contributions led to a wide 122-99 win for the Spurs.

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Victor Wembanyama Towers Over Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic for an Elite Achievement

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Is Wembanyama a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year title this season? Do you think he has any competition at this point? Share you thoughts!

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Written by:

Tsuktibenla T Jamir

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Tsuktibenla is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, whose love affair with basketball began at the age of 16, sparking a passion that has kept her actively playing ever since. Representing her school and college in various tournaments, she earned the title of MVP in several instances despite contending with multiple injuries. A graduate in English Literature, she pursued a Master's in Journalism to solidify her place in sports journalism.
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Edited by:

Bilal Handoo