Houston Rockets collaborate with Theta Labs to launch AI agent ClutchBot
The Houston Rockets team up with Theta Labs to introduce an AI agent named ClutchBot, becoming the fourth pro sports team to use Theta's agentic AI technology.
04.23.2025
The Houston Rockets have announced a partnership with artificial intelligence firm Theta Labs to launch a new AI agent named "ClutchBot", set to debut on the team’s official website at the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. The bot is named after the Rockets’ mascot, Clutch the Rocket Bear, and is designed to serve as a digital "mascot" for fans.
Key Features of ClutchBot
- Trained specifically on Rockets and NBA data
- Capable of answering queries about team news, statistics, ticketing, and venue information
- Part of Theta Labs’ EdgeCloud computing platform, which enables custom AI agents for sports teams
Theta Labs’ Growing Sports Portfolio
The Rockets are the fourth professional sports team to adopt Theta’s agentic AI technology, joining:
- Las Vegas Golden Knights
- New Jersey Devils
- San Jose Earthquakes
A standout feature of Theta’s AI agents is their artificial "personality"—for example, the Golden Knights’ bot responds in medieval-themed language.
The Future of Agentic AI in Sports
Theta Labs co-founder & CEO Mitch Liu highlighted the distinction between generative AI and agentic AI in a March interview with SBJ:
"AI agents take on a level of independence. The idea in the future is these agents—or these standalone bots or entities—can think on their own, interact on their own. The space I’m interested in is how does that improve the fan or customer experience?"
The Rockets’ adoption of ClutchBot underscores the NBA’s growing embrace of AI-driven fan engagement tools, positioning the team at the forefront of sports technology innovation.
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About the Author
Alex Thompson
AI Technology Editor
Senior technology editor specializing in AI and machine learning content creation for 8 years. Former technical editor at AI Magazine, now provides technical documentation and content strategy services for multiple AI companies. Excels at transforming complex AI technical concepts into accessible content.