The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James recently took to Instagram to recognize the murals of himself painted on adjacent basketball courts in Manila that were made to look like smartphones. This is what Nike sees as the future of basketball courts that are digitally connected.
Nike has announced the launch of Nike Hyper Court, the first on-court digital experience that unlocks mainly basketball training-related content for free and without the need for data. The first courts feature Nike’s top NBA players in James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving, and their murals grace the initial five Hyper Courts in Manila — where basketball is popular but access to data and training can be scarce and not available to everyone.
Nike Hyper Court is a joint venture powered by Google, as users who connect on site to Nike Hyper Court wifi with their smartphones are able to access the exclusive HD content and choose drills they can do when they want to play like James or Durant.
Google technology developed for the Philippines eliminates the need for high speed data connectivity so youths in Manila looking to hoop can stream YouTube content on courts across the city. Nike Hyper Court optimally can serve up to 60 people at a time, per court, to allow for steady streaming.
“Nike Hyper Court, powered by Google, presents a great example of how businesses can partner with the community to customize technology and provide an original, digital solution aimed at empowering Filipino basketball players and youth across the capital,” Miguel de Andrés-Clavera, Google Creative Technology Lead, said in a statement. “We are excited to see Nike Hyper Court use Google’s technology to change the game. This technology allows for endless possibilities on and off the court.”
For a basketball-crazy city like Manila, the hyperlocal content includes training programs from experienced coaches that address power, quickness and versatility for different types of players.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Xavi Nunag, an assistant coach in the Philippine Basketball Assocation, designed the training drills on the app by studying the tendencies of Nike athletes in the NBA and said, “Its a godsend for us coaches. It’s like having a coach there in the app without really needing the presence of a coach.”
“The passion for basketball in Manila is unlike any other city in Asia,” Nike Southeast Asia & India Senior Marketing Director Bulbul Khera said in a statement. “We want to inspire young ballers to realize their full potential through the physical and digital aspects of their sport.”
