Artist's rendering of virtual NBA game, via NBA Jam

Back in the ‘90s, kids across the world were wrapped in Michael Jordan-fever. They all dreamed of someday growing up to be the greatest basketball player of all time, even though they knew it was a statistical improbability. Finally, though, the NBA is giving fans everywhere a chance to see what playing basketball is like, and it’s all thanks to the magic of virtual reality. With pavement and basketballs nearly impossible to find in today’s tech-obsessed society, this may even be the closest some people ever get to America’s second or third-favorite pastime—provided they have the expensive technology that makes it possible.


The NBA came up with this VR scheme to promote tonight’s All-Star Game in New York, and it can be experienced by anyone with a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, a Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, and the Milk VR app. The NBA already filmed this weekend’s Three-Point Contest and Slam-Dunk contests in full, 360-degree video, and it will be doing the same for the actual All-Star Game tonight. The footage from all three will be available on the Milk VR app at some point soon, and then we’ll all be able to see what it’s like to walk around a basketball court while people play basketball around us. It’ll be just like high school, except nobody will break your glasses and call you a nerd—unless they see you wearing a pair of ridiculous VR goggles.