Cloudwalkers cast highlight: Second Spectrum

In 1972, following the release of the Pentagon Papers, a small institute in Los Angeles was given the power to design, develop and run the Internet. What followed was one of the greatest explosions of information in human history.

by Magali Gruet

June 26, 2025

This week, watch our interview with Rajiv Maheswaran and Yu-Han Chang, founders of Second Spectrum, on their journey From ISI to the NBA

Cloudwalkers is now on Amazon Prime Video.

The co-founders of Second Spectrum, Rajiv Maheswaran and Yu-Han Chang, share their journey from academia to revolutionizing the world of sports analytics. The story begins with a serendipitous meeting at USC’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and evolves into a partnership fueled by a shared passion for sports and innovation. What started as a simple idea—to turn athletes into moving dots—led to a groundbreaking exploration of spatial-temporal data and its applications in sports.

With support from ISI and USC, the team developed cutting-edge technologies that transformed raw data into actionable insights, impacting every facet of sports from coaching to broadcasting. This interview offers a fascinating glimpse into the power of data and machine learning, as the founders recount how their innovations not only enhanced athletic performance but also changed the way fans and teams experience the game.

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