For the first time, the NBA will play on glass.
Part of All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis – including the entire Saturday night lineup – will be played on a state-of-the-art LED video field at Lucas Oil Stadium, the league announced Monday.
On February 17, the glass court will be the scene of the skills competition, three-pointers and dunks.
The Long Range Shooting Challenge between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu will also be held there.
The field will also be used the day before, for the celebrity match.
The All-Star Game will take place on February 18 on a traditional wooden surface at Gainbridge Fieldhouse – as will the Rising Stars Tournament on February 16.
“ [Le verre] gives us more latitude in what we can do in terms of graphics, changing the design of the floor, changing the colors, really reacting to the play on the court, said Carlton Myers, NBA senior vice president for production and live entertainment.
“We are very happy with the possibilities and we think it will have a real impact, both on site and for viewers. »
Developed by the German company ASB GlassFloor, this type of court has been used during FIBA events.
FIBA has approved the use of LED glass flooring during high-level competitions in 2022.
The league has not revealed what the field costs, other than saying it is more expensive than a wooden surface.
The NBA has been thinking about this for some time. The NBPA’s Andre Iguodala and Joe Dumars, the league’s executive vice president of basketball operations, conducted on-court tests last week to check feel and safety.
The court is made of two layers of laminated safety glass, each five millimeters thick, the NBA said.
The surface is opaque and all designs will be provided by the LED panels.
The courts will look different for each event – some of what will be displayed will include real-time game statistics, replays and video content.
The surface is very similar to wood in terms of dribbling and feel.
“How does that feel?” Does the ground have traction? Is it a little absorbent? Those are the questions that immediately come to mind, Dumars said. The responses were satisfactory. »