NBA All-Star Weekend’s state-of-the-art LED glass court is a glimpse into the future of basketball

The 2024 All-Star Game is getting a futuristic makeover that could well be a glimpse into where the sport is heading.

The 73rd NBA All-Star Game takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana over the weekend where Team LeBron will lead a squad of Western Conference stars against Team Giannis’ Eastern Conference ballers.

The East and West All-Star Games jerseysCredit: Getty
The glitzy weekend isn’t just about the All-Star Game though.

There will be a ton of fan-friendly events taking place from Friday through to Sunday.

However, this year will feature an exciting new twist as the NBA has unveiled a new type of interactive court aimed at enhancing the fan experience.

Lucas Oil Stadium – the home of NFL franchise the Indianapolis Colts – is set to feature a state-of-the-art LED glass court for Friday and Saturday’s action.

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That means it will be used for the Kia Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest AT&T Slam Dunk as well as the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s All-Star Game, played at the Pacers’ home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, will not feature the futuristic court.

Essentially, the new court, designed by ASB GlassFloor, has LED panels under laminated glass and looks like a giant TV screen on the floor.

That allows the NBA to do all sorts of cool things like show live replays and make funky colour changes during the action.

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Saturday’s action on All-Star Weekend will be played on the LED glass courtCredit: Getty

Friday night’s Celebrity Games will be played on the futuristic floorCredit: Getty

The state-of-the-art court allows the NBA to enchance the fan experience with graphics and replaysCredit: Getty
The digitised court can also track players’ movements with a trail of stars, show statistics and animate key plays.

According to IndyStar, the LED panels are mounted to a frame while air-conditioning cools the lights.

Steph Curry makes insane 94ft full-court shot from the Golden State Warriors tunnel

The floor’s surface has elastic while tiny dos will offer players’ more grip than the usual hardwood does.

The floor has been rigorously tested by multiple NBA players and a similar court has been tested across Europe.

The LED floor has been used at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid and at German Bundesliga games played on by former NBA star Serge Ibaka.

The exact cost of the All-Star Weekend court has not been revealed but according to Sports Business Journal a version that can handle the demands of live streaming costs around $2.5m to build.

It’s a shame we won’t get to see the likes of Lebron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant trade blows on the innovative court.

But at least we should get to see some monster dunks and some lights-out shooting between Steph Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu who are bringing the men’s and women’s game together in the three-point contest.

For fans in the US, the weekend’s activities will air across TNT, ESPN, ESPN 2 and NBA TV and the NBA App.

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NBA fans in the UK will be able to watch Sunday’s All-Star Game via TNT Sports and discovery+.

Alternatively the exhibition game is available to purchase via the subscription service, NBA League Pass.