Balldontlie MCP Server

What is Balldontlie MCP Server?

An MCP server that integrates the Balldontlie API to provide information about players, teams, and games for the NBA, MLB, and NFL. It enables AI assistants like Claude to query live sports data via natural language.

How to use Balldontlie MCP Server?

Install via Smithery (npx -y @smithery/cli install @mikechao/balldontlie-mcp --client claude), a Desktop Extension (DXT) file, or manual configuration in claude_desktop_config.json with the command npx -y balldontlie-mcp and environment variable BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY. LibreChat users can add a YAML configuration.

Key features of Balldontlie MCP Server?

• Get teams for NBA, MLB, or NFL leagues
• Search players with optional first/last name filters
• Retrieve games by date(s), team IDs, and pagination cursor
• Fetch details of a single game by its ID
• Interactive schedule generator prompt for Claude Desktop

Use cases of Balldontlie MCP Server?

• Ask “Show me today’s baseball games” to get live MLB schedules
• Find football players with a specific last name (e.g., Purdy)
• Count NBA players with a given surname (e.g., Ming)
• Generate an interactive game schedule for a date range in Claude Desktop

FAQ from Balldontlie MCP Server

What leagues are supported?

NBA (National Basketball Association), MLB (Major League Baseball), and NFL (National Football League).

Do I need an API key to use Balldontlie MCP Server?

Yes. You must sign up at balldontlie.io and set the BALLDONTLIE_API_KEY environment variable. The free plan is sufficient.

Is this server officially associated with balldontlie.io?

No. It is a third-party MCP Server implementation and is not officially associated with balldontlie.io.

How can I install Balldontlie MCP Server?

You can install it via Smithery, by downloading a Desktop Extension (DXT) file from the GitHub releases, or by manually adding it to claude_desktop_config.json.

Can I filter players by name?

Yes. The get_players tool accepts optional firstName and lastName parameters for searching.