Behind-the-Scenes at the NBA Draft

By now, everyone’s likely heard about the top picks at this year’s NBA Draft. As expected, freshman Markelle Fultz out of the University of Washington was selected No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. With so much hoopla surrounding the top picks on Draft Night, it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement and emotion of the players, their families, and the fans.

But what happens after the names are announced? Once the picks walk across the stage, don their new hats, and shake hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver – what’s next?

As a proud Official Technology Partner of the NBA, Cisco was right in the thick of things on Draft Night, capturing both the excitement and the chaos on the media floor at the Barclays Center.

As in years past, Cisco technology powered the NBA’s Global Media Circuit – using Jabber Guest and video conferencing to connect 16 journalists from 11 different countries to eight first round Draft picks.

But there was an exciting new element in the mix this year as well, as Cisco technology connected the No. 1 and No. 2 picks to the Jimmy Kimmel Live show for interviews immediately following their selections. The Jimmy Kimmel Live team set up backstage at the Barclays Center and used Cisco video conferencing to connect the players to Jimmy on-set back in L.A. on the (Cisco!) Wall of America. Check out the clips below:

For nearly a decade, the NBA has seen enormous growth in the consumption of digital media with the help of Cisco’s technology, which allows the league to bring data and video from the court to fans around the world in real time. Cisco and the NBA are committed to enabling new fan experiences and elevating the way people experience the game they love – at home, on-the-go and in the arena.

Read more about the Cisco-NBA partnership here.