The NBA has entered a new era, one where artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for analytics but an active player in training, strategy, and even team morale.
At the 2025 NBA All-Star Summit, Commissioner Adam Silver unveiled a lineup of AI-powered robots designed to help players train more efficiently, refine their skills, and stay motivated. The technology, introduced by Physical AI, has already made its way into practice sessions, raising a critical question:
Is AI the future of basketball, or just the league’s latest high-tech experiment?
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ABE: The Ultimate Training Partner for Steph Curry
Steph Curry has trained alongside some of the NBA’s best players, but his newest practice partner is unlike any before.
ABE, short for Automated Basketball Engine, is a fully autonomous training robot built for efficiency. It doesn’t complain, doesn’t get tired, and never skips a workout due to load management.
Its primary function is simple yet game-changing:
- Rebounds every shot, no matter where it lands.
- Delivers pinpoint passes back to the shooter’s pocket.
- Eliminates downtime between drills, allowing players to maximize practice time.
The moment a shot leaves Curry’s hands, AB tracks its trajectory, calculates the rebound angle, and zips the ball back with robotic precision. There’s no waiting for a teammate to retrieve loose balls—just continuous, uninterrupted training.
This type of AI-assisted repetition is pushing efficiency in training sessions to new levels, allowing players to sharpen their skills faster than ever before.
MIC: The AI-Powered Defense Team
Shooting drills are just one aspect of practice. Developing offensive strategies against elite defenders is another challenge altogether—one the Golden State Warriors are now solving with AI.
MIC, or Motion and Intercept Coordination, is an AI-powered defensive unit designed to simulate high-level competition. Unlike human defenders, these robots don’t get fatigued, don’t fall for the same move twice, and react with split-second precision.
Here’s how MIC changes the game:
- Analyzes offensive plays in real-time.
- Tracks player movements and adapts instantly.
- Moves into defensive position before the offense can react.
For Coach Steve Kerr, who has faced some of the best defenders in NBA history—including Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, and LeBron James—MIC presents a unique challenge.
He treats these robots like any other practice squad, even yelling at them when they don’t respond the way he wants. It’s a testament to how seamlessly AI is blending into NBA training sessions, forcing players to adjust and innovate against an opponent that never makes mistakes.
KIT: The Locker Room Hype Machine
Not every AI in the Warriors’ facility is built for drills. Some are there for a very different purpose: keeping the team’s energy high.
KIT, the Kinematic Interface Tool, is the NBA’s first AI-driven morale booster. It doesn’t rebound, defend, or strategize. Instead, it plays motivational speeches, highlight reels, and even stand-up comedy clips to keep the team entertained.
Its real-time mood tracking allows it to adapt to the locker room atmosphere:
- After a tough loss? KIT queues up inspiring sports speeches.
- Before a big game? It blasts championship highlights.
- During downtime? It plays comedy clips to lighten the mood.
Draymond Green has taken full advantage of KIT’s entertainment capabilities, using it as a personal PR machine. He frequently asks it to replay his best trash-talking moments, top defensive highlights, and funniest locker-room jokes.
While it may seem like a small addition, KIT is proving that AI isn’t just about data—it’s about keeping athletes motivated and mentally prepared.
Beyond the Warriors: AI’s Growing Influence in the NBA
Golden State isn’t the only team embracing AI. Across the league, physical AI is starting to play a bigger role in training, preparation, and recovery.
One example is BEBE (Bot Enhanced Basics & Equipment), a system designed to:
- Prepare players pre-game by ensuring their gear and hydration are ready.
- Monitor post-game recovery, recommending ice baths, massages, or stretching routines based on real-time data.
And AI in basketball isn’t new. Toyota’s Q robot, first introduced in 2017, set a Guinness World Record in 2022 after sinking over 2,000 consecutive free throws. While it wasn’t built for NBA training, it showcased just how precise AI-powered basketball machines could become.
The Future of AI in Basketball
AI’s role in sports is expanding rapidly, and the NBA is no exception.
Beyond training robots, AI could soon assist with:
- Game strategy adjustments, providing real-time data for coaches.
- Injury prevention, analyzing movement patterns to predict potential risks.
- Advanced scouting and analytics, using AI to break down opponents’ tendencies.
While human skill and strategy will always define basketball, AI is beginning to shape the way teams train, prepare, and compete. The question is no longer if AI will play a role in the future of the NBA—but how far its influence will reach.
Is AI the Future of Basketball?
With AI-driven robots rebounding for Steph Curry, defending Warriors players, and keeping teams motivated, the game is evolving in ways no one could have predicted.
Will this technology enhance player performance, or will it fundamentally alter the sport?
As AI continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in basketball, one thing is clear—the future of the game is more high-tech than ever.
What do you think about AI’s growing role in the NBA? Share your thoughts below.
