If you own an Apple Vision Pro, there’s a new reason to dust it off — Apple has announced that live NBA games are coming to the headset starting in early 2026.
The company will begin streaming select Los Angeles Lakers games through the NBA and Spectrum SportsNet app on visionOS 26 or later. The full game schedule is expected to be released by the end of the year, according to TechRadar.
Courtside Experience, Reimagined
Apple will capture these games using Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive cameras, which will be placed courtside and beneath each basket. This setup will give fans an up-close, 180-degree view that makes it feel like they’re watching from right on the floor.
Until now, Apple’s “Immersive Video” format on Vision Pro was limited to concerts and short films. This marks the first time live sports will be streamed in the format — a major step forward for Apple’s mixed-reality platform.
While Meta’s Quest headsets already offer live NBA games through the Xtadium and NBA Arena apps — and even immersive coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 — Apple is just beginning to enter the live sports arena.
Given the Vision Pro’s premium price and limited content library, adding NBA games could help Apple make the headset more appealing to both sports fans and mainstream users.
What This Means for Fans
If you’re an NBA fan — especially a Lakers fan — this could finally give you a reason to use your Vision Pro more often. Watching a live game with courtside-level immersion could make the device feel worth its hefty price tag.
It may also signal the start of a broader rollout of immersive sports content on Vision Pro — potentially paving the way for other leagues and events to follow.
There’s also talk of a more affordable Vision Pro model, which could help Apple bring immersive live sports to a much wider audience. For now, though, existing Vision Pro owners can look forward to the new NBA experience and await the official game schedule — a welcome update for anyone hoping to see the headset’s true potential in action.
