China – NBA China has entered a multiyear collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, naming the company its Official Cloud Computing and AI Partner to enhance how fans in China experience and engage with the league through advanced AI and cloud technologies.
Under the partnership, Alibaba Cloud will develop applications designed to improve live game viewing and other fan engagement experiences, including during major events such as NBA All-Star, the Playoffs, and the Finals.
NBA China will leverage Alibaba Cloud’s AI and cloud computing services across a range of digital fan initiatives, including the creation of a proprietary AI model based on Alibaba’s Qwen series of foundational models. Fine-tuned with the league’s digital assets, the model will power the NBA App in China with features such as real-time game highlights, historical data, player insights, and interactive discussions on trending basketball topics.
At the NBA China Games 2025, Alibaba Cloud will introduce a Real-Time 360 Replay Solution that uses AI algorithms to track player movements and generate spherical, high-quality visual replays of key moments.
The event will also showcase interactive fan experiences powered by Alibaba’s AI, including the ability to create personalised NBA-themed avatars and generate game commentary clips in the user’s own replicated voice through Qwen technology.
As part of the collaboration, NBA China will migrate its digital platforms—including the NBA App, the official website in China, and mini-programs—to Alibaba Cloud infrastructure. The league will also use Alibaba’s analytical tools to produce data-driven insights for deeper fan engagement.
Meanwhile, Alibaba’s consumer-facing AI apps, Quark and Tongyi, will join as official marketing partners of NBA China.
The announcement was made by Alibaba Group chairman and Brooklyn Nets Governor Joe Tsai and NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum ahead of the NBA China Games 2025 presented by Taobao 88VIP, featuring the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns in preseason games on Oct. 10 and 12 at the Venetian Arena in Macao.
“It is an exciting time at the intersection of sports and technology. AI and cloud technologies are enablers of connection—between player and fan, brand and consumer, global vision and local culture. By collaborating with NBA China and introducing Alibaba’s latest innovations, we are here to excite NBA fans through the enablement of exceptional experiences that they’ve never seen before,” said Tsai.
Tatum added, “Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud reflects our commitment to using the latest technology to engage the hundreds of millions of NBA fans in China in new and creative ways. We look forward to working with Alibaba Cloud to transform how fans across the country watch and experience the game in the years to come.”
