NBA could introduce smart ball technology for officiating in 2027

by@CNBC

Summary

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league could begin using a new "smart ball" with embedded Bluetooth sensors as soon as 2027, potentially revolutionizing officiating within the sport. Developed in partnership with official basketball manufacturer Wilson, the technology aims to enhance accuracy by tracking the ball's movement and spin, allowing referees to make more informed calls, such as determining if a player touched the ball before it went out of bounds. The league has already piloted the technology in G League and preseason games, where players reported no noticeable difference in the ball’s feel. Silver also highlighted ongoing negotiations regarding wearable technology for players, which remains a topic of concern among the players' union due to potential implications for contract negotiations.

Analysis

NBA: The National Basketball Association is the premier professional basketball league in North America. It is actively testing smart basketball technology developed in partnership with Wilson during recent preseason games to evaluate its potential for improving officiating accuracy. Wilson: Wilson Sporting Goods is the official basketball manufacturer for the NBA. The company is collaborating with the league to integrate Bluetooth sensors into regulation balls for real-time movement tracking as part of technology trials. Adam Silver: Adam Silver serves as Commissioner of the NBA. He has highlighted the league's ongoing experiments with sensor-embedded basketballs and wearable devices for officials, emphasizing positive player feedback and potential applications in game officiating. Partnership Focus: Wilson is working with the NBA and technology partners to refine sensor integration in game balls without altering performance or feel. Technology Testing: The NBA is piloting connected basketballs and referee wrist wearables in select preseason games to collect data for future officiating support. Officiating Innovation: The league continues to explore AI-assisted tools to automate objective calls such as out-of-bounds determinations based on ball trajectory data.

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