NextVR’s broadcast coverage of a recent Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks game live in virtual reality made quite an impression on the Golden State Warriors.
“Yo, this is changing the game right here,” Kevin Durant remarked as he watched highlights from the Nov. 29 game.
The Golden State Warriors small forward had a NextVR-branded virtual reality headset strapped on after the team shootaround on Tuesday before the team’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans was broadcast in VR.
Kevin Durant was an especially big fan of VR. pic.twitter.com/bG4yryFvip
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) December 13, 2016
Even coach Steve Kerr donned a headset for a minute.
“Wow,” he said twice while immersed in the piece of technology. “ … That is cool.”
Steve Kerr is testing some virtual reality post-shootaround. pic.twitter.com/YbODnt3gob
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) December 13, 2016
As a whole, the Warriors have been pioneers in the virtual reality space and were part of the first live virtual reality broadcast to kick off the 2015-16 regular season at Oracle Arena in a game also against the Pelicans. Team co-owner Peter Guber is also a strategic investor and chair of NextVR’s advisory Board of Directors, the same virtual reality company the league has experimented with since 2013 and is now producing the weekly virtual reality broadcasts on NBA LEAGUE PASS.
Additionally, through a new multi-year deal with corporate partner, Accenture, the Warriors gave away Google Cardboard virtual reality viewers to fans last month. The promotional effort was designed to provide fans a sneak peek at the fan engagement offerings at the new Chase Center, which will open for the 2019-20 season.
On Wednesday, the team was also named the No. 2 most tech savvy sports team in the world by SportTechie.