The National Basketball Association (NBA) has taken a significant step in enhancing the fan experience with the introduction of an innovative augmented reality (AR) feature called Tabletop to its Vision Pro app. This new feature allows NBA League Pass subscribers to view select live games in a miniature 3D diorama, providing an immersive and interactive experience.

Tabletop uses digital avatars to mirror the actual players' movements, passes, and shots on the court. Each player is represented by the same avatar, either in a robotic or cell-shaded cartoon style, but can be differentiated by their jersey colors and names displayed above their heads when they possess the ball. The feature is surprisingly polished, considering it's still in its alpha stage.

One notable aspect of Tabletop is its ability to work with local market games that are otherwise unavailable to stream video in the app. During testing, the feature had a delay of around 45 seconds behind the announcer audio, but users can sync it with the live feed using a toolbar option to minimize the lag. Unfortunately, the feature was not available for out-of-market games during testing, and it's unclear whether it will be accessible for this weekend's NBA All-Star events.

The Tabletop feature bears some resemblance to the Lapz Vision Pro app, which previously offered a similar experience for Formula 1 races before being shut down by F1 itself. The NBA has been experimenting with mixed reality technology, as demonstrated by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a presentation showcasing the replacement of a player in an in-game clip with a 3D scan of sports commentator Ahmad Rashad.

Tabletop is currently available to NBA League Pass subscribers, who can access it by looking for the new Tabletop button next to the usual "Watch Live" and "Multiview" buttons in the NBA app. This innovative feature has the potential to revolutionize the way fans engage with live sports, and its implications could extend beyond the NBA to other sports and entertainment industries.

As the NBA continues to explore and develop its mixed reality capabilities, it will be interesting to see how this technology evolves and is adopted by fans. With the Tabletop feature, the NBA has taken a significant step in enhancing the fan experience, and it will be exciting to see how this technology is utilized in future events and applications.