The NBA might roll out a basketball fitted with a mini chip in games as early as next year, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told CNBC.
The league has joined forces with Wilson, the maker of the NBA’s official ball, to build a “smart ball.” Inside it sits a small Bluetooth sensor that logs motion, spin, and shifts in direction. That chip is about one gram, while a standard NBA ball comes in at around 620 grams, or 1.4 pounds. Silver said the aim is for players to notice nothing at all.
Testing has already taken place in the G League, Summer League, and a few preseason games. Players handled balls both with and without the chip and nobody could tell the difference. The chip may help officials judge whether a player touched the ball before it crossed out of bounds. It does this by catching slight shifts in spin. It could also reveal whether a shot’s path was altered.
Silver also has plans to bring the smart ball to everyday players. He said it may help them break down their shooting form. Take a player who puts up hundreds of shots. That person could study which angles and spins produce the most baskets.
The official NBA smart ball may arrive next year, though the consumer model is further off.
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The league is also looking at wearables for use during games, but no deal has been struck with the players’ union. The NBA said referees tested wrist devices in certain preseason and summer league games this year. The gear let officials speak with the replay center about reviews, scoring changes, and clock issues.
Silver noted that players already use devices away from the court to monitor sleep and physical output. Even so, questions linger about how teams might use data gathered during games. The sticking point is whether that data could play a role in contract talks, as it could possibly show that a player is slowing down or not playing like they used to.
The NBA Commissioner said the league needs to settle with the union on how the data would be handled. Even so, he believes letting players wear devices in games is a natural step.
Source: CNBC