Eight NBA teams to test out device players wear on body to track every move

Technology has worked its way into just about every professional sport, which includes the NBA.

For a few seasons now, teams have been installing cameras strategically placed throughout arenas that allow them to track every shot taken, etc.

Teams are also using technology to better their talent, keeping them both healthy off and on the court.

But now, according to Yahoo Sports, eight teams are planning to use a new device (essentially a very small beeper sized computer) that will be placed on the back of a said player, between their shoulder blades that will monitor every single thing you could think of including player acceleration, leaping ability and more:

"The device, called OptimEye, is roughly the size of an oldfangled beeper and athletes wear it inside their jerseys on the upper back between the shoulder blades. The device records literally every movement the player makes, accurately measuring exertions such as distance, velocity, changes of direction, acceleration, deceleration, jumps, heart rate and more.These physiological and physical performance parameters are then uploaded to a computer to be analyzed, allowing coaches, trainers and the players to understand their individual workload levels. These are conclusions that once could only be subjective, say, by reading a player’s body language, to now being totally objective. By wearing the devices during practices, teams can monitor their players’ physical output and closely watch their load levels to ensure each player is not being overworked and ensuring ultimate preparedness to play in each game when performance counts.Worn during workouts, the device can provide real-time data alerting coaches and trainers if a player’s exertion rate is too high, the moment when a player is most vulnerable to injury, allowing coaches and trainers to pull back."

The device isn’t technically ready to be worn during a game, but that’s not stopping Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban who says he’s thinking of using the technology during exhibition games anyway.

In addition the Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks are among the teams who will be wearing the devices.