NBA All-Star Tech Summit Celebrates 25 Years
The NBA’s All-Star Tech Summit hit its 25-year milestone, a significant achievement considering nobody could have fully predicted its longevity or impact.
Back in 2000, when the All-Star weekend was last held in the Bay Area, the first tech summit was born. Fast forward a quarter-century, and the event in San Francisco has not only returned but has also blossomed into a premier gathering.
This year’s summit was headlined by Commissioner Adam Silver and the Golden State Warriors, who brought Physical AI into the spotlight.
The summit featured cutting-edge physical AI robots, demonstrating their potential to revolutionize how players and coaches approach the game, both on and off the court.
A highlight of the event was a demonstration by Boston Dynamics, where Spot robot dogs entertained the audience by launching T-shirts, a fun illustration of the applications of robotics in sports.
Adam Silver and Golden State Warriors Bring Physical AI to the NBA at 2025 NBA All-Star Technology Summit.
The initial summit’s central question, “What’s next?” didn’t have a clear answer then, and the same holds true now, but with the benefit of hindsight, commissioner Silver reflected on how much innovation has occurred in media and technology over the past 25 years.
He noted how skeptics, during the early days of the internet’s growth, doubted the impact that the World Wide Web would have.
Yet the internet has gone on to have a huge impact on various aspects of life, and caused major disruptions across countless industries, sports being no exception.
A key person at that first summit was Mark Cuban, who was on the verge of becoming the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. His prediction that streaming would dominate proved accurate, as a recent panel featured leaders from Netflix, Apple, Amazon, YouTube, ESPN, and NBC Sports.
The summit is structured to encourage open conversations, with participants agreeing that most discussions remain off the record.
The event brings an eclectic mix of high-profile figures, including NBA players and WNBA champions like Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson, and Sabrina Ionescu.
Also, the guest speakers at the summit also incorporated figures beyond the basketball world such as USA Basketball chairperson Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.
What began as a one-off in the Bay Area, one of the world’s foremost tech hubs, has grown into a highly sought-after event.
Silver’s one-on-one interviews with NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird, were other great moments.
This year’s conversation included broadcaster Bob Costas interviewing Golden State coach Steve Kerr.
Silver underscored the summit’s intimate feel: Although the event has expanded, the smaller setting enables more thoughtful and engaging dialogues.
When asked in 2000 what the current conversations would be focused on, Silver couldn’t have guessed. Similarly, predicting the 2050 Tech Summit’s themes is an impossible task.
“Other than the game of basketball, I really have no idea,” Silver said. “We’re featuring AI and robotics at this year’s event. Who knew?”
