By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed a microchip-embedded ‘smart ball’ could debut in official games as soon as next year.
The league partnered with Wilson to create the ball. It features a tiny sensor that weighs only one gram. This device tracks real-time movement, spin, and trajectory.
The NBA has already tested this new ball during recent G League and Summer League games. It also appeared in several preseason matchups. Players could not feel any change to the bounce or weight. “Nobody could tell the difference. So that’s a good sign,” Silver mentioned in an interview with CNBC on Sunday.
Referees will likely use the data by next season to verify out-of-bounds calls. Meanwhile, a retail version for fans is still a few years away. On-court wearables for players are also on hold due to ongoing union negotiations over data tracking.
“We have to come to some agreement on exactly how the information is used. But it seems everybody wants that information,” he commented on ongoing talks with the Players’ Association, labeling this upgrade as a logical next step.
“The players are in a position right now where they’re essentially wearing wearables 22 hours a day, and the only time they’re not wearing them is when they’re playing in the game,” he added. “We’ll work something out with them.”
Previously, speaking from Macao during the NBA China Games 2026, Silver discussed more topics, including detailing plans for a 16-team NBA Europe league aimed for the 2027–28 season.
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