NBA Tests Smart Basketballs and Referee Wrist Wearables in Preseason

The NBA is using the 2026 preseason as a laboratory for two new pieces of officiating technology: a connected “smart” basketball and wrist wearables for game officials. The league announced Monday that select exhibition games will feature Wilson basketballs equipped with Bluetooth sensors capable of collecting data that could eventually support real-time officiating decisions. For now, the information is strictly for research and will not be used to change or influence calls during the preseason.

The second experiment puts wearable devices directly on officials’ wrists, allowing communication with the NBA Replay Center during designated situations such as replay reviews, scoring corrections and clock malfunctions. The league previously tested the wearables during Summer League and called that pilot successful enough to expand the trial. Neither technology is scheduled for use during the 2026-27 regular season.

The bigger story is where this could lead. Basketball has long been difficult to automate because so many calls depend on contact, positioning and judgment. A sensor-equipped ball could eventually provide objective information on touches, possession and timing, while faster communication with replay officials could reduce delays. The NBA is not handing decisions to technology yet, but this preseason test shows the league is actively building the tools that could change how games are officiated in the future.