The Unique Features of the LED Court at NBA All-Star 2024 and How It Operates

The NBA All-Star week has arrived, and as every year, the organizers strive to introduce novel elements to captivate the audience, and 2024 is no exception. In addition to format changes, the city of Indianapolis brings something unprecedented: the LED court.

This change aims to make the court more vibrant and modern while allowing the NBA to project dynamic images and effects beyond just displaying images on the floor.

Here’s what you need to know about the NBA All-Star 2024 LED court, from its design to its functionality.

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What Makes the LED Court at NBA All-Star 2024 Special? The new LED court by the NBA is created by the German company ASB GlassFloor. According to NBC, the court consists of two layers of “multi-layer safety glass” and took several years to complete. This type of court has met FIBA standards and has been available for international events since 2022, ensuring players can play without much concern about safety.

This LED court is said to provide a similar feel to a conventional court during gameplay. While the NBA has attempted to change the court design, notably during the In-Season Tournament earlier in the season, the LED court at the All-Star is a much more significant and attention-grabbing change.

The LED court will be used for events at the Lucas Oil Stadium during All-Star, including the All-Star Celebrity Game, dunk contest, and three-point shootout. However, it will not be used for the All-Star Game itself. Instead, players will compete at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home court of the Indiana Pacers.

How Does the NBA All-Star LED Court Operate? Carlton Myers, the head of production and entertainment at the NBA, told Forbes that the NBA had been considering the idea of an LED court for eight years. The current state of technology has finally made it feasible to implement that idea.

Meyers explained: “What you typically see on the big screen will now appear on the floor alongside live footage,” adding an extra dimension to already exciting All-Star events. “Replays” or “real-time stats” are among the many features that the LED court can display.

According to Forbes, each layer of safety glass is about 5mm thick, and both are positioned above the LED lights. The screen panels are translucent enough to see dynamic images and effects produced by the lights. The safety glass also has a “surface etched with ceramic dots spaced apart to provide grip and friction” for the players during gameplay.

Christopher Arena of the NBA told Forbes that the court yielded “nearly equivalent results” when tested against a traditional hardwood court, so there will be no slipping or ball inconsistency issues on the LED court.

Could LED courts have a future in actual NBA games? The necessity for teams to adapt court designs for the In-Season Tournament demonstrates the potential of LED courts. Feedback from players and fans after All-Star 2024 could be the first step in determining the future of LED courts.