Kyle Kuzma Worried ‘Smart Ring’ NBA Players Will Use To Detect Coronavirus Symptoms Are ‘Tracking Devices’

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Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma doesn’t seem too enthusiastic about the Oura smart ring the NBA will give players to help detect Coronavirus symptoms while inside the Orlando bubble.

According to the NBA’s health and safety memo for the restart of the season, every player will receive an Oura “smart” ring, a $300 fitness tracker that is capable of predicting COVID-19 symptoms up to three days in advance with 90% accuracy.

One of the tools the NBA will use with players is a “smart ring” that players will wear during their time at Disney World. The ring can measure body temperature, respiratory functions and heart rate, which are all things that can signal whether or not someone is sick. All players and essential staff members will be given the option to participate in health monitoring using the ring. The titanium rings, reportedly made by Oura, are capable of predicting COVID-19 symptoms up to three days in advance with 90% accuracy, according to the company.

The data will be studied and assessed by the University of Michigan to help generate an overall wellness assessment of each person. The memo said that players will have full access to all data collected on them, but team staff will only have access in circumstances where the player’s illness probability score indicates he may be at higher risk or is showing signs of coronavirus

Kuzma and several other NBA players seemed skeptical about the idea of using the rings because they believe the electronic devices could be used as “tracking devices”.

In their health and safety document, the NBA states the use of a wearable ring device is optional inside the bubble and insist that all player data will be kept private.

Via USA Today

Voluntary use: A team may request a player to use in practice (or otherwise not in a game) on a voluntary basis the ring. A player may decline to use (or discontinue use of) the ring at any time.

Data access: A player will have full access to all data collected on him from the ring. Team staff will not have access to data collected from the ring, except for in the circumstance identified above in which the ring’s illness probability score indicates that a player may be at higher risk for, or is showing signs of, a possible coronavirus infection.

Data use: The ring may not be used in games, and no player data collected from the ring worn at the request of a team will not be made available to the public in any way, used for any commercial purpose, or considered, used, discussed, or referenced in negotiations involving a future player contract or other player contract transaction involving the player.

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.