The Evolution Of Tracking Data

Over the past 15 years, tracking data has greatly evolved in basketball. From manual annotations to automated tracking thanks to complex camera rigs throughout stadiums, this progress has given franchises the tools to go more in depth when it comes to play-by-play insights. 

But this data was limited to the elite. Teams could view their players through a microscope, but when it came to scouting college or european talents, they would often operate blind.

By leveraging our proprietary computer vision and AI technology, SkillCorner can extract with a high level of precision the tracking data of every player and ball through a single broadcast feed - removing the need for expensive in-stadia hardware. Scouts and data analysts across the basketball landscape can now monitor any player and any game from the collegiate level or international leagues the same way they would their own. It isn’t about simply democratizing data, it’s about transforming analysis and scouting altogether and handing these tools to everyone.

‍

“Tracking data has transformed basketball analysis over the last decade in the NBA. Having tracking data for the NCAA and all major international leagues will help us make the most educated decisions regarding the NBA Draft and international free agency.”
Orlando Magic - David Bencs, Assistant General Manager

‍

Tracking Data Explained 

To fully grasp the potential of our solution it is necessary to understand how it operates and how much further into tracking it goes.

Xy Coordinates: Creating The Digital Court

Our AI-powered technology allows for the complete recreation of the court on a 2D digital scale. The solution maps out all 10 players by capturing their XY coordinates at 25 frames per second. Through our deep learning algorithm we are able to continuously track each player on and off screen while measuring speed, physical intensity and spacing. The solution is trained to handle any form of visual obstruction or player not appearing on the feed in order to guarantee a ceaseless tracking of possessions all through one broadcast feed -  with an accuracy of 98% on all plays.

The Z Axis: Keeping The Eye On The Ball

Tracking ball movement isn’t just about its starting point and final destination. In order to build proper analysis and identify a basketball play you need to see and understand how the ball moved in 3D space. Not all shots are created equal, knowing how the ball traveled during a shot gives each skill or statistic more context, leading in turn to a greater insight to a player’s competency and abilities.

‹ ›

Physical Attributes: Getting A Better Understanding Of Athlete Performances.

XY tracking not only allows for better tactical insights, it also brings in depth knowledge and consistency to a players athletic performances on the court and throughout seasons and leagues. Frame by frame tracking offers analysts the full picture of how much intensity a player puts in defensively throughout a game. Can the player consistently bring the same athleticism in the first quarter and the fourth? Does he navigate well through off-ball screens? In a stop-and-go sport like basketball, velocity changes and momentums are at the core of the game. Being able to measure frame by frame these changes in speed (acceleration, deceleration) and spacing automatically is the extra edge a team needs in an 82 game season where consistency will be the key to victory.

‍

A Frame By Frame Breakdown Of Skillcorners Solution

In the images below we illustrate how our solution can track players and the ball directly from a single feed. From the original frame, the SkillCorner solution can identify the lines of the court, the different actors present on the screen and where the ball is located. We can identify who’s who on the court through team colors and jersey numbers. As mentioned previously, through computer vision and machine learning we are able to correctly predict and locate where player No. 23 will end up off screen in the next frame. This is illustrated on the 2D mapping which is able to place every player and the ball on the court at any given moment. All this from a single broadcast feed and applicable to any game being recorded in the world.

‹ ›

‍‍

One Broadcast Feed, Millions Of Data Points

The true strength of our solution and tracking data lies in its scalability. SkillCorner has allowed a true harmonization of basketball data across the world. With global coverage on over 19+ global competitions, 10 years of archives (selected leagues) and the ability to track through one broadcast feed, scouts and analysts alike can now view a college or international prospect the same way they would an NBA all-star. 

Historically, harmonizing data across leagues was a true challenge. Basketball is an ever-changing sport, the game philosophy and rhythm may differ from one league and country to another. Because tracking reads physics rather than box scores, it normalizes evaluations across competitions. Scouting resources can therefore be allocated more efficiently, analysts can standardize their search parameters, allowing them to spend more time on properly vetting a player’s adaptability to a league rather than reading through thousands of Excel rows to try and identify a player with true upside metrics wise.
‍

"SkillCorner is a crucial component in achieving an NBA-level analytics function at the college level"Akash Sebastian, Basketball Analytics and Strategy expert

This harmonization of data also brings great opportunities to college basketball. Thanks to the accessibility of our data, teams are empowered to objectively assess NCAA prospects with unprecedented detail, overcoming challenges posed by rapid roster turnover and limited collegiate scouting capacity. By leveraging metrics tailored to professional standards such as field goal percentages at a contested rim, closeout efficiency, and pick-and-roll execution - analysts can move beyond instincts toward truly data-driven profiling.

In an era shaped by salary cap constraints, our tracking data serves as an invaluable asset for pinpointing undervalued talent and redefining how player value is calculated.

Moreover, it unlocks macro-level research into how core traits like perimeter shooting, rim protection, and glass-cleaning translate across different college conferences and tiers, insights that were unattainable for most prior to our solution.
‍

Go Further with SkillCorner data

To discover how SkillCorner’s rich data can elevate your plays and scouting operations, get in touch today.