Over the next six months, NBA Launchpad portfolio companies will work alongside league and team advisors on R&D projects
Source: NBA Launchpad selects 5 companies to develop future of basketball-related technology
I recently delivered several posts on low-cut footwear and whether the sneakers are at fault for the increase in ankle injuries for NBA athletes. In those posts I delivered information and video evidence of the various issues that have led to an increase in injuries not just in basketball, but in every sport played year-round:
A Video Discussion on Anthony Davis’ Injuries, Kobe Sneakers and Low-Cut Hoop Shoes
Today the team at adidas shared with me information to help reinforce the discussion on the research being done by the NBA to help counter the injury issues. NBA Launchpad is a program very similar to adidas’ Station F venture fund, and ASICS Accelerator. Both brands have taken an active involvement in finding businesses that can help to improve the tools used by athletes.
NBA Launchpad was introduced in June 2021 with a global search to identify cutting-edge solutions that directly addressed the following priority areas identified for the inaugural season of the program: Ankle Injury Innovation, Elite Youth Player Performance, Referee Training and Development and Youth Health and Wellness. NBA Launchpad received hundreds of submissions from a diverse applicant pool across 25 countries, ranging from early-stage startups to large research institutions.
One of the companies Launchpad selected was Betterguards:
Betterguards | Movement beyond limits – Adaptive ankle protection system that provides advanced freedom of motion for athletes while actively preventing injuries.
Right now, the NBA is in the early stages of finding a way to implement the Betterguards technology. This is interesting because my argument has been that the design of the shoe isn’t the culprit. I reiterate that overuse and awkward landings are the primary problems and a developer from adidas agreed. This doesn’t discount that footwear design can’t be enhanced. Looking at the pictures on the site, shared here on this post, the design can be improved, but there are already ankle braces designed in a very similar manner. What I would like to point out in the imagery found on Betterguards is that their technology doesn’t confine and wrap around the entire ankle like a high-top sneaker would. This tech allows the ankle to still have complete range of motion. This is another confirmation that it’s not sneaker height contributing to injuries. Take a moment to click through on other aspects of Launchpad and you’ll find other important components the NBA selected which I brought up in my previous posts on injuries: Recovery, rest, and preventive training.
- Breathwrk (Los Angeles, California): Health and performance app that provides science-backed breathing exercises, helping athletes wake up, calm down, increase stamina and fall asleep.
- Nextiles (Brooklyn, New York): Materials science company that quantifies human movement by merging sewing technologies with flexible electronics.
- Rezzil (Manchester, United Kingdom): VR-based solution for cognitive training, rehabilitation and game analysis.
- Uplift Labs (Palo Alto, California): AI-powered technology that delivers real-time movement tracking and 3D analysis to enhance health and performance.