NBA commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed that a microchip-equipped smart ball, developed in partnership with Wilson, could appear in official games as early as next season. The sensor embedded in the ball weighs just one gram and measures its movement, spin and trajectory in real time, data that referees will use to make accurate out-of-bounds calls. The new ball has already been tested in the G League, at Summer League and in preseason games. "Nobody could tell the difference. So that's a good sign," Silver said of the innovation.
Beyond the ball, negotiations over sensors worn on players' bodies are also continuing. "We have to come to some agreement on exactly how the information is used. But it seems everybody wants that information," Silver said, addressing control over personal data. The league's leadership is pressing ahead with its technological push, aiming to raise the quality of the game and the accuracy of officiating decisions even further.
