The Detroit Pistons are taking the lead in the NBA with the newest trend in software technology. The Pistons have partnered up with the leading Silicon Valley sports and science technology company, Kitman Labs. This partnership aims to use the innovative software technology to monitor player injury risk as well as optimize athletic performance. The Detroit Pistons are dedicated to keep their players injury free especially their more expensive players like Reggie Jackson, who they have invested $80 million for.
Kitman Labs is working to provide the best statistical analysis for their partners and has done this with other teams in the MLB, NFL, and now the NBA. “We’re pleased to partner with the Detroit Pistons,” said Stephen Smith in a press release, founder and CEO of Kitman Labs. “Our ground-breaking system, developed by sports science practitioners, will enable the Pistons to get real time access to actionable insights that can help minimize injury risk, optimize player performance and monitor player activity.”
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The Kitman technology system provides coaches and trainers with alerts that will decrease injury risk for their players. With the additional ability to collect third party data like GPS trackers, heart-rate monitors and other wearables, the Pistons will deploy a comprehensive player care strategy that aims to maximize performance and player health. Kitman Labs is determined to show players that injury can be preventative. Kitman Labs CEO Stephen Smith said in a Wired UK piece in May about why athletes get injured, “The majority of these big superstars think it’s down to pure bad luck,” says Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs. “We’re here to say that it’s not.”
According to Zach Lowe, the devices that weigh less than ounce, can show that a player gets more oomph pushing off his left leg than his right. This is a great way to provide evidence of a possible leg injury because it demonstrates fatigue when players produce less power and acceleration in one leg. Fatigued players are more vulnerable to muscle tears, ligament ruptures, and soft-tissue injuries, all injuries that could end a player’s season too early.
Sports teams across the different leagues are competitively trying to attain the most innovative sports technology to improve sports performance. The Bucks this week became the first NBA team to use Catapult’s ClearSky program, which includes a special indoor GPS tracking system.
With this being said, there still exists some skepticism about the new trend of software technology. If the public knows a player’s performance analysis that includes some evidence of a possible injury, there is a lot less negotiating leverage for him. The players’ union is already beginning to think of these questions and deciding who should have access to the player’s in-game software data. “My greatest concern is how some of this information might be leaked or used in contract negotiations,” said Michele Roberts, executive director of the players’ union.
Still, the Detroit Pistons made this investment and it will not be the last type of move made by a pro team to try and prevent injuries through a sports technology provider like Kitman Labs.