As professional sports become more data-driven, NBA fans have often been left in the dark about the deep analytics teams use behind the scenes. But that’s about to change.
Starting with the 2025-26 NBA season, the league is rolling out a new suite of advanced stats designed to give fans a closer look at what truly happens on the court. These new features will be part of a broader initiative called “NBA Inside the Game.”
Three New Game-Changing Stats
The NBA plans to release three innovative statistics over the next few months, powered by its advanced player tracking system and machine learning technology.
- Defensive Box Scores – A fresh take on traditional stats, this tool flips the script by crediting defensive players for their impact on plays — something fans have never been able to track in real time before.
- Shot Difficulty Metric – Using detailed pose data and machine learning models, the NBA will now calculate how tough each shot really is. It considers player position, defensive pressure, and movement to estimate the expected field goal percentage. This means fans can see not just who scores the most, but who makes the hardest shots.
- Player Gravity Metric – This stat will measure how much attention a player commands from defenders — whether as a shooter or a rim runner — and how that creates space for teammates. It’s not a raw number but a contextualized insight into a player’s offensive impact.
Play Finder: AI-Powered Game Search
One of the most exciting new tools is “Play Finder.”
This AI-powered feature will analyze every play in a game — tracking player and ball movement — and label offensive sequences from start to finish.
Fans and teams will be able to search for similar plays throughout the season or in the NBA’s historical data. Think of it as a search engine for basketball plays, where you can instantly find patterns and strategies based on how players moved on the court.
According to Charles Rohlf, the NBA’s VP of Stats Technology and Product Development, Play Finder uses machine learning models to interpret offensive sequences and find similar patterns with just a few clicks.
Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS)
This major innovation comes through the NBA’s new five-year partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
The NBA has been working with AWS to process massive amounts of player tracking data — which uses 29 data points per player, captured 60 times per second — to create these advanced metrics.
Ken DeGennaro, the NBA’s Executive VP for Media Operations and Technology, explained that the league is evolving beyond being just a sports organization:
“We’re not only a basketball league anymore — we’re also a technology and media company. Our goal is to give fans a richer, more interactive game experience, no matter how they watch.”
These new tools will be integrated into broadcasts, direct-to-consumer platforms, social media, and the NBA’s official website, bringing fans even closer to the action.
Real-Time Access for Fans
The new stats, including shot difficulty and play finder, will be available live during games on the NBA’s website.
For example, while watching a live game, fans can see how tough a player’s shot was compared to the league average — giving new context to highlights and performances. It’s a move toward transparency and deeper understanding of player performance.
Expanding Beyond the NBA
The AWS partnership doesn’t stop at the NBA. It will also cover the WNBA, G League, and Basketball Africa League, opening doors to more customized analytics for each.
Julie Souza, AWS’ Global Head of Sports, shared that her team is already working with WNBA executives to develop analytics tailored for the women’s game. These could include unique insights into player health, performance, and refereeing trends.
“We want to bring parity in analytics across leagues,” Souza said. “The WNBA has its own dynamics and priorities, and we’re excited to build pioneering stats that reflect that.”
A Glimpse Into the Future of Basketball Analytics
This collaboration between the NBA and AWS marks a major step toward AI-driven fan engagement. With features like Play Finder, Defensive Box Scores, and Shot Difficulty metrics, fans will soon have access to data once reserved for coaching staffs and front offices.
As Souza noted, this is only the beginning:
“A few years ago, no one was talking about generative AI — now it’s transforming everything. With the NBA, we’re positioned to experiment and innovate as new technologies emerge.”
Final Thoughts
The NBA’s latest move isn’t just about numbers — it’s about enhancing the fan experience. By merging basketball with cutting-edge AI and data visualization, the league is proving that it’s not just keeping up with the times but setting the pace for the future of sports analytics.
Fans can expect a more immersive, intelligent, and interactive way to experience the game they love — both on screen and online.