NBA Commissioner Adam Silver indicated that the league may introduce “smart ball” technology during games as early as the 2027 season, a move that could fundamentally alter officiating protocols. In a recent interview with CNBC’s Contessa Brewer, Silver disclosed that the league is collaborating with official ball manufacturer Wilson to engineer a basketball embedded with a Bluetooth microchip sensor capable of tracking spin, movement, and trajectory shifts.
Emphasizing the subtlety of the innovation, Silver noted that the chip weighs approximately one gram, a negligible addition to the standard 620-gram basketball. Trials conducted across the G League, Summer League, and select preseason games have yielded positive feedback from athletes. “Nobody could tell the difference. So that’s a good sign,” Silver stated, highlighting that the league prioritized maintaining the authentic feel and bounce of the ball.
The most immediate application of this technology is expected to be in officiating. The embedded sensors could assist referees in making precise determinations, such as identifying which player last touched the ball before it went out of bounds by detecting minute changes in spin, or determining if a shot’s path was illegally altered. Silver expressed confidence that this specific use case could be implemented in regular-season games next year.
Beyond the professional court, Silver envisioned significant potential for consumer use. He described a future where amateur players of all ages could utilize data from the smart ball to analyze and refine their shooting mechanics, identifying which angles and rotations correlate with higher scoring success. However, he cautioned that a retail version of the technology remains several years away.
While the smart ball progresses, the league is simultaneously navigating complex negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association regarding wearable technology. Although a pilot program using wrist wearables for referees during this year’s preseason and summer league was deemed successful, allowing for direct communication with the replay center, the initiative will not extend into the upcoming season. Silver acknowledged that while players frequently use wearables for health monitoring off the court, concerns persist regarding how in-game performance data might be utilized by teams.
One gram? Really hope they don’t change the ball’s balance. The players would notice.
Love the idea for amateur training. Makes shooting drills way more engaging.
Does anyone else think this is just a slow creep toward robot referees?
I’m skeptical about the data privacy. Who owns that performance info?
This is a game-changer. No more arguing about who kicked the ball out!