The NBA could begin using a basketball with a tiny embedded sensor in games as early as next year, potentially changing how officials make calls on the court, commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with CNBC's Contessa Brewer.
Silver revealed that the league is working with Wilson, its official basketball manufacturer, to develop a "smart ball" fitted with a small chip that can track movement, spin and changes in trajectory. The technology has been tested in the NBA's G League, the Summer League and some preseason games, where players used basketballs both with and without the chip.
Players could not tell the difference
The chip weighs roughly one gram, against a basketball of about 620 grams — roughly 1/600th of the ball's weight, according to background details reported by Fast Company. Silver said players who took part in the tests could not detect any difference in how the ball feels or bounces. "Nobody could tell the difference. So that's a good sign," he said, as quoted in reports of the interview.
The sensor is built into the ball's air valve and transmits data to a small number of antennas placed around the arena, providing real-time measurements of factors such as acceleration. Combined with video, the data helps build models for officiating decisions.
Officiating first, consumers later
One of the most immediate applications could be officiating. The technology could help referees determine whether a player touched the ball before it went out of bounds, or whether a shot's trajectory was altered. "I think you could see as soon as next year us using it for officiating in our games," Silver said, pointing to 2027.
Beyond the court, Silver sees a consumer opportunity: basketball players of all ages could use the data to analyse and evaluate their shooting mechanics, with graphs showing which shot angles and rotations are most likely to go in.
Agreement with players still needed
Silver acknowledged that the league must reach an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on how the information would be used. The league is also exploring the use of wearable technology during games, but negotiations on that front have not yet produced an agreement, he said.
Sources: The News — NBA commissioner Adam Silver hints at major technology move for 2027, Fast Company — The NBA is testing 'smart' basketballs. Here's how they work
Silver revealed that the league is working with Wilson, its official basketball manufacturer, to develop a "smart ball" fitted with a small chip that can track movement, spin and changes in trajectory. The technology has been tested in the NBA's G League, the Summer League and some preseason games, where players used basketballs both with and without the chip.
Players could not tell the difference
The chip weighs roughly one gram, against a basketball of about 620 grams — roughly 1/600th of the ball's weight, according to background details reported by Fast Company. Silver said players who took part in the tests could not detect any difference in how the ball feels or bounces. "Nobody could tell the difference. So that's a good sign," he said, as quoted in reports of the interview.
The sensor is built into the ball's air valve and transmits data to a small number of antennas placed around the arena, providing real-time measurements of factors such as acceleration. Combined with video, the data helps build models for officiating decisions.
Officiating first, consumers later
One of the most immediate applications could be officiating. The technology could help referees determine whether a player touched the ball before it went out of bounds, or whether a shot's trajectory was altered. "I think you could see as soon as next year us using it for officiating in our games," Silver said, pointing to 2027.
Beyond the court, Silver sees a consumer opportunity: basketball players of all ages could use the data to analyse and evaluate their shooting mechanics, with graphs showing which shot angles and rotations are most likely to go in.
Agreement with players still needed
Silver acknowledged that the league must reach an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on how the information would be used. The league is also exploring the use of wearable technology during games, but negotiations on that front have not yet produced an agreement, he said.
Sources: The News — NBA commissioner Adam Silver hints at major technology move for 2027, Fast Company — The NBA is testing 'smart' basketballs. Here's how they work
