Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala says that there is nothing that can take the place of real live, sweaty, intense and competitive sports. The 2015 Finals MVP is adamant that not even the most advanced technology can replace what it’s like to be at an arena, field or stadium — including virtual reality.
“They are talking about watching a game with virtual reality like you are in the arena,” Iguodala told LinkedIn last week. “But there isn’t any live action like sports, which is why you see these huge TV deals with sports. You can’t binge watch the [NBA] finals.”
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In October, NBA Digital announced it was partnering with NextVR – which Warriors co-owner Peter Guber invested in – to live stream one game per week on NBA League Pass in virtual reality.
Still, Iguodala maintains that virtual reality will never take the place of what it is like to experience a live sporting event.
The 6-foot-6 former All Star is a technology proponent. He has invested in Facebook, Tesla and Apple tech stocks and is also a leader of the National Basketball Players Association technology summit. Even his upcoming bobblehead features a VR headset.
In the past, Iguodala told the San Francisco Chronicle that he “admires the potential of virtual technology to build empathy and emotion.”