While the NBA has continued to be a tech and digital leader within the major pro leagues, one old piece of hardware has not evolved as quickly as the rest of the association: the shot clock. But thanks to Swiss watchmaker Tissot, the contraption on top of each NBA hoop will now get a much due upgrade, seeing as it has not changed much since the 1970s.
The new shot clock is made with LED glass, so it is transparent instead of clunky and black. This feature will be most appreciated by fans whose seats are behind the shot clock, so that their view of the game will not be impeded. But even though it is made out of glass, and the sleek look makes the clock look fragile, the clock has been tested for durability on dunks and hard hits. So, hopefully, none of these high-tech shot clocks will end up shattered, but each arena has a backup for replacement in case of the possibility.
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Additionally, it benefits from much of the technology that we take for granted in today’s smartphone-ruled world. The shot clock itself is touchscreen compatible, to make the operator’s job a bit easier. All of the data from the shot clock can be exported to any necessary location in the arena, whether that be the video board, press box or broadcast trucks.
The new NBA shot clock: https://t.co/k3Mn4ehxyc #NBAShotClock
— InsideHoops.com NBA (@InsideHoops) July 9, 2016
This will be the first time that each NBA arena has the exact same shot clock, as prior to Tissot the league had a couple different models and each stadium could be different. A total of eighty-seven shot clocks will be issued to these NBA stadiums, three for each, and they will enter their test runs this week during NBA Summer League.
Last October, Tissot became the Official Timekeeper of the NBA. In addition to totally reworking the shot clock, they gave out personalized watches to all of the NBA draft’s first round picks.