If you re dying to attend tonight s season opener for the Golden State Warriors but can t make it to Oracle Arena, you could still be able to catch some courtside action virtually.
The Warriors game with the New Orleans Pelicans will be the first-ever NBA game that will be streamed live in virtual reality. Fans can tune into the game for free from the comfort of their couch via one of Samsung s latest smartphones paired with one of its corresponding Gear VR headsets.
Those wearing the headset will be able to see a 180-degree view of the action from within Oracle arena. Fans can also tune in before the game to virtually experience the team s championship ring ceremony with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
The system the Warriors are using to capture the virtual reality video and stream it over the Web is from a company called NextVR, which is based in Laguna Beach. NextVR, which counts Warriors co-owner Peter Guber among its investors, has previously streamed virtual reality videos of a NASCAR race, the U.S. Open golf tournament and a Coldplay concert.
The NBA has been experimenting with virtual reality for the last two years. NextVR recorded a Warriors game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2013-2014 season in virtual reality. It also recorded five of the NBA Finals games between the Warriors and The Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Gear VR is one of several consumer-targeted virtual reality systems that have already hit the market or will do so over the next year. Samsung has teamed up with Facebook-owned Oculus, which has its own high-profile VR system in the works, to offer virtual reality videos to Gear VR users.
It s unclear how much interest there will be among NBA fans to virtually watch games. VR experts say that the technology is uncomfortable to wear for periods longer than 15 or 30 minutes; by contrast, the typical NBA game lasts more than two hours.
Photo: Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson (11) dribbles against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter of their preseason NBA game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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