TimesofIndia.com in Singapore: Conversations around NBA The Rising Stars Invitational 2026 at the OCBC Arena in Singapore focused on the players, and rightly so. Who would have jumped? Who could be the next Animal Victor?However, inside the hall at the Iconic Marina Bay Sands, about 5 kms from the OCBC Arena, the conversation is different.Here, the NBA is not looking for players; it’s not looking for startups. This is not for the next guard. It was an afterthought. The NBA was talking about startups, artificial intelligence, game technology and companies that will shape the way basketball is played, looked and experienced in the years to come.The idea came to light on Thursday when the league announced a dedicated ‘Future of Basketball in Asia’ initiative led by NBA Launchpad, its new program that connects emerging industries with the NBA and WNBA.Starting this September, startups from all over Asia will have the option to dedicate themselves to the program.Speaking at the announcement, David Lee, Director of NBA Investments, said the move reflects the growing relationship between the league and the region.“In Asia, I think international sports teams are not just looking at it as a market they’re trying to grow. It’s becoming an innovation that we want to see.“Launchpad’s new goal in the Asia region is not only to expand our location, but to build a global, connected ecosystem around basketball.“This is not a one-year project or a one-time passion. It is an investment we have decided to make the future of basketball and innovation in Asia.”The same announcement took a few minutes for one of this year’s Launchpad companies, Singapore’s Swish Basket, to present its AI-powered basketball training platform.The NBA is making it clear that it wants to be close to where the next generation of sports technology is being built.
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More than just a money program
Launchpad started in 2022 with a simple goal. Find young companies that are building technologies that can make basketball better.Over time, the program has expanded beyond on-court skills to include media, fan engagement, artificial intelligence and business solutions.Every year, a few startups spend six months working with various NBA businesses before showcasing their work at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.Just talking TimesofIndia.comLee said money was never there to begin with.“Launchpad started almost five years ago, early in 2022, with the goal of finding companies that create exciting technologies to improve the game of basketball on the court.“From the second year onwards, we expanded our litigation expertise to include companies that focus on litigation business.“The main goal is to identify companies that can help us innovate.“At the end of the program, there is also a financial part. After the Demo Day, we decide if we want to invest in the company. If we do, we will continue to support it later.”
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The program, he explained, grew out of the challenges that many game developers continue to face.Unlike businesses that develop banking products, healthcare or business software, companies that build game technology often struggle to attract investors because the market appears to be small.The NBA saw an opportunity to change that.“A lot of game innovation was happening, and it’s still happening. The challenge for startups, especially those focused on games, is finding the right expert to help them continue to build what they’re working on.“Because the overall market for multi-sport technologies is limited, investors are not always happy with these companies, even though their work may be important to the NBA.“We wanted to be more active in this area. We wanted to help these companies to show themselves through the NBA that the way we can use it will make it more attractive to other investors and the environment.”For small companies, that assurance is often as important as the money itself.Also important, Lee believes, is attracting startups who care about the game rather than just another business opportunity.When asked what has surprised him the most since launching Launchpad, his answer wasn’t technology or money. It was about the people behind the ideas.“What has surprised me is how much interest people have in wanting to change the game,“People really love what basketball has given them. It means different things to different people, and they want to help improve it in ways that enhance the experiences of their families, friends and fellow fans.”“We receive hundreds of applications each year, and it’s always exciting to see new ideas come back the following year.”That passion, Lee believes, is often what separates a good tech company from the ones who can make decisions in the game.
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The business of making basketball better
The technologies that enter Launchpad are solving different problems. Some are helping players, others are helping coaches, broadcasters or medical staff and increasingly, they are changing the way fans see the NBA.Earlier, during the AI ​​and Business of Sports panel, Lee showed off the technologies the league is already working with.From WSC Sports, which produces game analysis, to Fastbreak.ai, which helps create schedules, and Launchpad companies like SkillCorner and Springbok Analytics, which focus on player tracking and injury analysis, artificial intelligence is quietly becoming a part of the daily activities of the NBA.However Lee insists technology itself is not the goal. The game is.Lee, however, dismissed the idea that the next revolution in basketball will come from engineers rather than players.“I don’t think the statement is true,” Lee told Timesofindia.com.“On the court, players will always be at the center. The competition, talent and skill among today’s players is incredible, and technology will continue to help them reach levels that may not have been possible before.“That said, when it comes to the fan experience, technology will change the way people watch the game.“It’s going to depend on what you’re seeing based on your situation and what we’ve talked about for years, but it’s coming to fruition.”Lee sees the change extending beyond what happens on the court. The game, he says, will remain the same.Visual ads are already programmed differently depending on where the game is being viewed. The next step is to make each fan experience feel personal rather than generic.“A 25-year-old boy in New York shouldn’t play the game exactly the same as a 12-year-old girl watching in Singapore.”“I’ve always believed that something is just a commercial if it doesn’t suit you. If it’s relevant, it’s information.”This concept also explains why the NBA is expanding in areas that, at first glance, have nothing to do with basketball.On the AI ​​side, Lee gave one example of the league’s favorite — real-time language translation. Post-game interviews, he said, often leave the need for several hours. Instant translation into multiple languages ​​allows fans around the world to interact with players while the conversation is still live.It’s a small change.But one that shows how the league is increasingly embracing technology as a way to bridge the gap between the game and its audience.
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Open invitation to India
For all the talk of Asia being the center of basketball innovation, not one country has made a mark on the Launchpad.India.Lee admitted that the NBA is still waiting for its first Indian story.“Currently, we don’t have any Launchpad companies or NBA Investments companies from India, which we need to do something about.“India has always been a very important market for the NBA. It’s a market we want to do more of. Considering its size and potential, we want to have companies from there.“If we can identify strong companies from India, it would be another way to strengthen our presence in this market.“We absolutely love it. We haven’t had a chance yet. Hopefully soon.”It’s a clear sign that the NBA’s ambitions in India have gone beyond fans, high-profile programs and commercial partnerships.The league is now also looking for starters.
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Success next
After listening to hundreds of startups over the past five years, this sister asked about the one skill she wished she had. The question made him pause for a moment. Then smile.“Very good – and difficult – question. If I already knew the answer, I probably would have started the company myself.”The answer eventually came from another area. Keeping the biggest players on the field.“I don’t think this area [injury prevention] has been neglected, but injury prevention is still something that needs more work.“The longevity of the top players and ensuring that the best players are available to compete on a regular basis is very important to us.“Whether it’s making MRI scans easier or using technology to analyze players’ movements, detect fatigue early and know the right time for players to rest, there’s a lot of work to be done.”For all the advances in artificial intelligence, computer vision and analytics, Lee believes basketball still has problems waiting to be solved.The NBA Rising Stars Invitational was built around the players of tomorrow, away from the court, the conversation was about the ideas of tomorrow.Earlier in the AI ​​session, Lee summed up the challenges the league faced in one number.“Ninety-nine percent of our fans have never been to an NBA game in person. So the question becomes: how do we create events for people who can’t attend – because of distance or affordability – as close as we can to being there?”“That’s where technology comes in.”