The match between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, scheduled for December 25, will be broadcast simultaneously in an animated version. The actions of Victor Wembanyama and his teammates will be reproduced in real time by Mickey Mouse and Disney characters.
It’s what we call the magic of Christmas. On Wednesday January 25, on the occasion of the NBA’s traditional “Christmas Day”, the match between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs (6 p.m. French time) will be broadcast live and simultaneously in a cartoon version.
In addition to its broadcast in a “normal” format on ABC and ESPN, the channels ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+ will offer a meeting where the players, Victor Wembanyama in the lead, will be replaced by emblematic Disney characters.
Concretely, the movements and actions of “real” players will be reproduced in real time by Mickey Mouse and his gang. A technological feat made possible thanks to player tracking data provided by the Hawk-Eye system.
A great first for the NBA
While the Knicks and Spurs face off at Madison Square Garden, the game in its animated format, titled “Dunk the Halls”, will take place in a virtual version of Main Street USA, the famous street at the entrance to the Disney park World in Orlando (Florida).
This is a big first for the NBA. But ESPN has already carried out such broadcasts on NFL (US football) or NHL (ice hockey) matches. In 2023, the NFL meeting between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars was, for example, broadcast in a Toy Story version. We’ll let you appreciate the results.
It now remains to be seen whether Wembanyama will have the privilege of being played by Mickey Mouse.
