NBA legend Magic Johnson and former NBA commissioner David Stern have joined ShotTracker, a manufacturer of wearable tech for basketball, as investors and advisors to propel the brand’s newest, game-changing technology, ShotTracker TEAM.
Johnson and Stern’s investment is part of a $5 million total seed funding that also includes investments from Elysian Park Ventures, Greycroft Partners, Sovereign’s Capital, IrishAngels, ward.ventures, R/GA and Service Provider Capital.
“Both of these legends are widely knows as two of the biggest game changers this sport has ever seen, so we’re thrilled they have recognized ShotTracker TEAM and the impact it will have on basketball,” ShotTracker COO Davyeon Ross said in a statement. “We’re focused on democratizing the use of analytics, making data reliable and available to teams everywhere.”
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Users of ShotTracker TEAM wear small sensors on their shoes and use a technology-enabled Spalding ShotTracker basketball, both of which are connected with sensors installed in the rafters above the court.
Statistics are gathered and then data is immediately sent to coaches, players, fans and recruiters through a series of apps. This allows you to leave the court with a complete set of comprehensive player statistics such as player efficiency ratings, box stats and more.
“ShotTracker TEAM will revolutionize the game not only because it automates the tracking of detailed player stats, but also because it’s an affordable solution for basketball programs at every level,” Johnson said in a statement. “This new technology simplifies the assessment of performance that have a major impact on young athletes’ preparation and ultimately their basketball careers.”
Johnson and Stern’s investment is the latest sign of ShotTracker’s growing popularity in the sports industry. Earlier this year, the company agreed to a multi-year partnership with Spalding and is the official wearable technology of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
“The game is evolving with incredible players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Winning is now more about finesse than force, and teams must leverage everything in their arsenal in order to win,” Stern said in a statement. “By making real-time stats affordable, teams everywhere will be able to identify and capitalize on every competitive advantage.