In a groundbreaking move, the NBA has announced that part of the upcoming All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis will be played on a state-of-the-art, full video LED court made of laminated safety glass. This marks the first time ever that the NBA will showcase basketball skills on a glass surface, providing an innovative and visually dynamic experience for both players and fans.

The league revealed on Monday that the entirety of the All-Star Saturday Night lineup, including the skills competition, the 3-point contest, the slam dunk competition, and the shooting matchup between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu, will take place on the glass floor at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 17th. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on February 16th will also be played on the same impressive court.

The glass court, developed by the German company ASB GlassFloor, has already been approved for use in top-tier basketball competitions by FIBA, the sport's governing body, starting from 2022. The NBA has long been exploring ways to incorporate this innovative surface into their events, and extensive testing was conducted by Andre Iguodala of the National Basketball Players Association and Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president for basketball operations, to ensure its safety and playability.

Comprised of two layers of laminated safety glass, each five millimeters thick, the court's surface is opaque, with all designs and graphics being provided by the LED panels beneath. This cutting-edge technology will allow for real-time game statistics, replays, video content, and player tracking animations to be seamlessly integrated into the court during gameplay. Furthermore, the full range of interactive and reactionary graphics can change the floor design and colors, enhancing the overall experience of both spectators in the arena and those watching at home.

Carlton Myers, NBA senior vice president overseeing live production and entertainment, expressed excitement about the possibilities this technology brings. "We feel really, really good about the capabilities of what this gives us, what this provides us. And we think it's going to be really impactful, both in the building and watching on television," he stated.

While the glass court represents an exciting leap forward in basketball innovation, it does come at an increased cost compared to traditional wooden courts. However, the NBA, known for its progressive approach to basketball, views this investment as a worthwhile endeavor to enhance the sport's entertainment value.

It is worth noting that the main event of the All-Star weekend, the All-Star Game itself on February 18th, will still be played on the traditional wooden court. Nonetheless, the introduction of the glass court for the various skills competitions and the celebrity game is sure to bring a fresh and captivating experience to basketball fans worldwide.

As the NBA embraces this groundbreaking technology, it opens up new possibilities for court design and interactivity within the game. This marks a significant step forward in basketball's evolution, propelling the sport into a realm of sensory and visual excitement that was previously unthinkable.