NBA, Wilson develop chip-embedded smart basketball to assist referee calls by 2027

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on October 12 that the league is working with sporting goods brand Wilson to develop a smart basketball with an embedded chip, which could assist referees in games as early as 2027.

According to Silver, the chip inside the basketball weighs about one gram and has been tested in the G League and summer league. Players tried both chipped and regular basketballs, and none could tell the difference. The smart basketball can detect changes in ball rotation to determine whether a player touched the ball before it went out of bounds, and can also detect changes in shot arc to assist in goaltending calls.

Future consumer applications could turn shooting rotation and arc data into charts, allowing players to review shot angles and improve their shooting form after, for example, 500 attempts. Silver said the technology could help referees in games as early as 2027, while consumer versions may take several more years.

This is not the first time Silver has discussed smart basketballs. In May 2026, the NBA announced plans to introduce AI-powered automated out-of-bounds calls, using arena cameras and artificial intelligence similar to tennis's Hawk-Eye system. The league has also tested wearable wrist devices for referees to communicate with the replay center.