Articles about NBA

Podcast

NBA’s Ballmer crackdown echoes Microsoft antitrust, SF vs. Seattle housing, and a Seahawks tech twist

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: The NBA suspends former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a year and hits the… Read More

NBA suspends Steve Ballmer for 1 year, fines L.A. Clippers $30M over salary-cap scheme

Beyond Ballmer’s ban and the team fine, the Clippers were stripped of five consecutive first-round draft picks (2029 through 2033), several team executives were suspended, and Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution. Read More

Amazon nails the fundamentals with first NBA broadcast — with a sports betting twist

Amazon marked a major milestone with its growing sports portfolio on Friday, broadcasting its first-ever live-streamed NBA game. Read More

NBA taps Amazon Web Services to develop new basketball stats as Amazon deepens sports push

Amazon is not only streaming NBA games for the first time this season — it’s also aiming to establish a new… Read More

Amazon’s ‘NBA on Prime’ streams will include FanDuel bet tracking, shopping integration, and more

Amazon is planning a number of interactive features and personalization for fans when it begins airing NBA games on Prime… Read More

‘Absurd’: Steve Ballmer responds to report that Clippers funneled money to star player via endorsement deal

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his NBA team, the Los Angeles Clippers, are disputing a report alleging the team funneled $28 million to star player Kawhi Leonard through an endorsement designed to circumvent the NBA salary cap. Read More

Paul Allen estate to sell Portland Trail Blazers to group led by Carolina NHL team owner

The owner of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL team has reportedly reached an agreement to buy the Portland Trail Blazers NBA… Read More

MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos, and other billionaires who could buy the Blazers

No way. Bonkers. A real stretch. That’s the response I got in our Slack thread after floating MacKenzie Scott as… Read More

Who will buy the Blazers? Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s estate plans to sell NBA franchise

The estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announced Tuesday morning that it has begun the process of selling the… Read More

In chat with Bill Gates, Mark Cuban compares big NBA trade to Microsoft unloading Windows 11

Mark Cuban tapped Bill Gates for some perspective on a recent business decision that reshaped the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA… Read More

Why this NBA team is launching its own streaming service: Steve Ballmer on the strategy behind ‘ClipperVision’

A new streaming service unveiled by the LA Clippers this morning reflects the philosophy of the franchise’s chairman, former Microsoft… Read More

LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer gives impassioned speech at NBA preseason game in Seattle

It was a bit of a throwback scene here in Seattle on Monday evening: Steve Ballmer revving up the crowd… Read More

With help from Microsoft’s cloud, NBA unveils new app

The NBA called out its partnership with Microsoft as it unveiled a redesigned app on Tuesday. The new app has… Read More

Report: Nike founder, Dodgers co-owner make bid to buy Portland Trail Blazers from Paul Allen Trust

A signature piece in late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s vast collection of interests and properties could be headed for sale… Read More

NBA using Microsoft cloud and AI to power ‘CourtOptix’ and bring enhanced stats to fans

The NBA is tapping the power of its partnership with Microsoft to deliver advanced analytics that offer insights into shots,… Read More

Seattle hoops legend Jamal Crawford defends his use of BlackBerry phone: ‘It’s the keyboard’

Don’t try adding Jamal Crawford to the group text. The NBA star and Seattle basketball legend admitted Thursday night that… Read More

Podcast

GeekWire Podcast: We tested Microsoft’s virtual fan experience at an NBA game — here’s how it works

If you’ve seen fans appearing on live video on the sidelines of this year’s NBA playoffs, powered by Microsoft Teams,… Read More

Podcast

I was a virtual NBA fan: What it’s like to cheer from the digital sidelines in Microsoft Teams

I had one of the more memorable sports moments of my life last night, rooting for my favorite team in… Read More

Steve Ballmer can’t sit courtside for NBA action, but he applauds innovation and use of Microsoft Teams

Steve Ballmer isn’t able to jump out of a courtside seat and cheer on his Los Angeles Clippers in his… Read More

NBA teams and Microsoft Teams in action: How fans can get in, and get kicked out of, digital seats

The NBA returned to action on Thursday and brought along virtual fans in an experience powered by Microsoft Teams. Some… Read More

Fantastic? Not quite, but here’s what fans look like in NBA’s virtual experience using Microsoft Teams

Courtside seats at a Lakers game used to be such a prestigious thing. But 2020 is a different NBA fan… Read More

NBA will use new Microsoft Teams ‘Together’ feature for virtual fan experience during games

The NBA is getting help from Microsoft to improve the fan experience as the league embarks on an unprecedented shortened… Read More

Microsoft partners with NBA to create direct-to-consumer platform for live and on-demand games

Microsoft on Thursday announced a multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association and will help create a new direct-to-consumer platform… Read More

Steve Ballmer calls death of Kobe Bryant ‘a tragedy of tragedies’ during tech summit in L.A.

In his first public remarks about the death of Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve… Read More

Steve Ballmer gets his shot at an NBA title after blockbuster trade sends stars to Clippers

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has orchestrated plenty of business deals throughout his career. But the blockbuster trade that just… Read More

Big tech and pro sports converge in Silicon Valley during NBA Playoffs, offering a preview for Seattle

REPORTING FROM OAKLAND: It was a regular break in the action during the first quarter of Tuesday’s NBA playoff game… Read More

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reaches peak NBA geek as Clippers’ comeback stuns Warriors

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is never short of courtside enthusiasm while watching his LA Clippers compete, as we documented… Read More

Podcast

Numbers of the NBA: A courtside chat with Steve Ballmer about the basketball metrics that matter

Sure, you know how many points your favorite NBA player scored in his last game. But how do turnovers, field… Read More

Podcast

Numbers Geek with Steve Ballmer: The Basketball Box Score Mystery

Can Steve Ballmer identify a basketball game purely by the numbers? Can you? That’s our challenge on this new episode… Read More

Amazon adds NBA League Pass to Prime video lineup as tech giant continues sports push

Amazon bolstered its growing library of live sports programming with the addition of NBA League Pass to Prime Video Channels.… Read More