NBA Experiments With Smart Basketballs and Wearable Tech
The league will test connected basketballs and wrist devices in select exhibition games to gather data and improve officiating.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is introducing new technology for select exhibition games as it prepares for the upcoming season. The league announced Monday that it will experiment with smart basketballs equipped with Bluetooth sensors and wrist wearables for officials.
The smart basketballs, developed by Wilson, are designed to collect real-time data. The NBA stated that this information will be used for research purposes only and will not influence calls made during the games. The data gathered is intended for future use in officiating decisions.
Officials will also utilize wrist wearables in designated games to enhance communication with the replay center. This technology will be employed for situations such as replay reviews, scoring adjustments, and clock malfunctions. The wearables have previously undergone a successful pilot program during the NBA's summer league. The league has confirmed that this technology will not be implemented during the regular season.