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Glance to your left and watch the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench sulk as Kevin Durant drains the go-ahead trey in Game 3. Glance to your right and Steph Curry is squatting, in controversial fashion, to celebrate Durant’s big bucket. Look behind you and you’ll see fans dazed with confusion and shock. And you never left home.
The NBA has partnered with Next VR to produce the first NBA Finals broadcast in virtual reality. Anyone with Google Daydream View or the Samsung GearVR headset, along with a compatible smartphone, can download the free NextVR app from the Google Play Store or the Oculus Store. The experience allows fans to see exclusive angles including the baseline, upper decks, tunnels to locker rooms and press conferences without ever stepping foot in the arena.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reported that a fan purchased two courtside tickets worth $133,000 for Game 5, which set an NBA record. Virtual reality allows you to have that same view of the game for a reasonable price. Obviously, you won’t get the full fan experience like the deafening roar of Oracle Arena after a Steph Curry three, the aroma of fresh popcorn, or interacting with other fans, but it offers a chance to see angles and sights you otherwise wouldn’t get on your HD TV.
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Source: Complex