Alibaba Cloud will develop innovative applications to enhance live game viewing and other fan engagement experiences, including with the annual NBA All-Star Game, the NBA Playoffs and the Finals. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

“It is an exciting time at the intersection of sports and technology,” said Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai, also the owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets franchise, in a statement. “AI and cloud technologies are enablers of connection – between player and fan, brand and consumer, global vision and local culture.”

The NBA China-Alibaba Cloud collaboration was announced ahead of two pre-season games between the Nets and the Phoenix Suns at The Venetian Arena in Macau on Friday and Sunday. Taobao 88VIP, the membership service of Alibaba’s main domestic retail platform, is the sponsor of the event marketed as “NBA China Games 2025”.