The NBA will introduce a sensor-embedded basketball as soon as next year to improve referee decisions and track ball movement on the court.

Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is developing the equipment with official manufacturer Wilson. "We're experimenting with putting a small chip in the ball that weighs roughly a gram," he said. A standard basketball weighs about 620-gram or 1.4 pound, making the added component nearly undetectable. Officials tested the technology in the G League, Summer League, and preseason games. "Nobody could tell the difference. So that's a good sign," Silver added.

The immediate goal is to help referees make faster, more accurate calls. The chip can detect subtle spin changes to determine if a player touched the ball before it crossed the boundary line. It will also flag when a shot trajectory shifts mid-air. Silver expects the system to handle these objective calls during regular games immediately.

After the league stabilizes the on-court version, it will launch a consumer model for players at all levels. The device will collect data on shooting angles and rotation speeds to show athletes which releases produce the highest scoring rates. Silver noted that a retail version remains several years out.

The league is also testing wrist-worn devices for officials to communicate directly with the replay center. A successful pilot program during preseason and summer league games allowed referees to report scoring changes and clock malfunctions. The wearable trial will not continue into the regular season.

While the technology advances, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have not agreed on wearable data policies. Players worry performance metrics could factor into contract negotiations. Silver acknowledged the concern and said the league must establish clear rules before expanding the devices. He emphasized that athletes already track their physical data 22 hours a day during the season.