Is the Smart Basketball Coming to the NBA in 2027?

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Is the Smart Basketball Coming to the NBA in 2027.

The NBA is exploring whether a "Smart Ball" could be used in its games going forward – possibly sooner than expected. League chief Adam Silver has stated that the league could use a novel intelligent basketball in games "as early as next year." The US financial broadcaster CNBC reported this on October 11, 2026.

Silver said the "Smart Ball" could "potentially change the way referees make decisions." He did not name a concrete launch date – but a start as early as the 2027/28 season is possible.

The NBA could deploy a new "Smart Ball" in games as early as next year, potentially changing the way referees make decisions.

What is known so far – and what isn't

The CNBC report is based on statements from Commissioner Silver. What exactly the ball is meant to measure or transmit does not emerge from the report. The range of features and the exact rollout path also remain open.

What is clear: if the plan works out, the basketball itself would be the data source – no longer just a passive piece of game equipment. Which specific decisions the "Smart Ball" is meant to support also remained open per Silver, according to CNBC.

What this means for referees and fans

For referees, a "Smart Ball" would be a new tool to evaluate disputed scenes – such as whether a ball touched the line before or after the clock expired – with additional data. What fans would see: technology that intervenes in real time in the flow of play and supports the referee team on close calls.

What the "Smart Ball" can actually do, in which games it is first tested, and whether it will be used in the regular season or only in showcases, will be revealed at Adam Silver's next appearances.