THINK450, the innovation arm of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), has announced its collaboration with AI company Meetkai to unveil an immersive metaverse experience coinciding with the much-anticipated All-Star Weekend.
The metaverse space is poised to enhance fan engagement by providing an exclusive hub where enthusiasts can connect with their favorite players, access unique merchandise, participate in contests, and much more.
At the core of the NBPA metaverse lies the virtual rendition of “The Brotherhood Deli,” a pop-up shop originally established during the 2023 Summer League games in Las Vegas. This virtual replica boasts an array of player-endorsed brands and limited-edition merchandise. Notably, fans can virtually try on items before purchasing, with seamless direct shipping to their doorsteps.
During its inaugural week, the NBPA metaverse promises daily drops of limited-edition merchandise from brands associated with NBPA members. Additionally, fans can look forward to immersive virtual meet-and-greets with their favorite players, the opportunity to snap selfies with their digital avatars and engage in real-time Q&A sessions.
As the metaverse experience evolves, enthusiasts can anticipate new features, including expanded virtual meet-and-greets, sneak peeks of exclusive content, interactive contests offering coveted merchandise prizes, and a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to experience “The Brotherhood Deli” in person during the upcoming Las Vegas summer event.
The collaboration between NBPA and Meetkai follows the NBA’s trend of embracing emerging technologies and Web3.
In February 2022, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver introduced “Coach Nat,” an innovative virtual coach designed to impart basketball fundamentals. Furthermore, to commemorate the league’s 75th anniversary season, the NBA introduced “NBA All-Star NFTs,” each showcasing iconic courts from basketball history.
Expanding on this tech-forward trajectory, the NBA solidified its commitment to innovation by entering a multi-year partnership with Sorare in September 2022, aimed at developing the first NFT-based fantasy basketball game.
