{"id":66993,"date":"2026-06-09T03:37:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T03:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/66993\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T03:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T03:37:12","slug":"espn-pulls-use-of-ai-images-from-nba-finals-coverage-after-getting-cooked-by-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/66993\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN pulls use of AI images from NBA Finals coverage after getting cooked by internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ESPN’s high-tech experiment flopped on national TV.<\/p>\n

The Worldwide Leader in Sports has decided to bench its controversial AI-generated “moving portraits,” which debuted during the NBA Finals<\/a> and quickly drew backlash online.<\/p>\n

The digital misfire tipped off during Game 1 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.<\/p>\n

As ABC headed to a commercial break, viewers were shown what was intended to be an animated version of a classic image featuring Spurs legend Tony Parker.<\/p>\n

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GLITCH AT ARIZONA COLLEGE GRADUATION SPARKS UPROAR FROM CROWD<\/a><\/p>\n

Instead, many fans saw what they described as an uncanny-valley nightmare.<\/p>\n

\"NBA <\/p>\n

NBA legend Tony Parker attends a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, on March 16, 2022. (Michael Gonzales\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The network used AI to animate a photo of Parker celebrating after winning the 2003 NBA championship.<\/p>\n

But the result drew criticism online, with viewers saying the technology distorted the former Spurs star’s facial features.<\/p>\n

Social media users quickly piled on ESPN over the graphic.<\/p>\n

CHICAGO PAPER PUBLISHES AI-GENERATED ‘SUMMER READING LIST’ WITH BOOKS THAT DON’T EXIST<\/a><\/p>\n

Many questioned why the network, which has access to decades of NBA footage and photography, chose to use AI-generated animation<\/a> at all.<\/p>\n

“Why use AI when they literally have the pictures?” one fan wrote on X.<\/p>\n

Another posted: “As soon as I saw this last night I was like is that supposed to be Tony Parker bc who the f— is that guy.”<\/p>\n

AI-GENERATED VOICE OF FORMER NARRATOR JIM FAGAN TO BE FEATURED NEXT NBA SEASON, NBC SPORTS SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n

Parker wasn’t the only NBA icon to receive the AI treatment.<\/p>\n

ESPN also used the technology to animate images of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell and Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n

\"Thousands <\/p>\n

Thousands of New York Knicks fans gather inside and outside Madison Square Garden and celebrate across New York City after the Knicks’ NBA Finals Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 5, 2026. Several fans were arrested for climbing light poles and other structures during the celebrations. (Selcuk Acar\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The moving portraits were absent during Game 2 and will not return for the remainder of the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

ESPN executives quietly pulled the plug on the experiment.<\/p>\n

A network resource confirmed the graphics were created using AI tools and said management was evaluating whether to continue using the technology in future broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com<\/a> \/ Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!<\/a><\/p>\n

Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.\u00a0<\/p>\n