NBA to Use AI for Out-of-Bounds Calls

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has announced that the league intends to integrate artificial intelligence to handle out-of-bounds decisions. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Silver detailed the league’s plan to automate these specific calls to increase efficiency.

Automating Objective Decisions

The proposed system would function similarly to the Hawk-Eye technology utilized in professional tennis. By using cameras positioned around the court, the AI would automatically determine ball possession.

Silver noted that the system would instantly identify “Laker-Ball, Knick-Ball, or Thunder-Ball.” This shift aims to remove objective decisions from the hands of human officials.

Did You Know? The NBA’s move toward AI automation was likely inspired by the MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike system (ABS), which was introduced this season.

Shifting the Role of Referees

By automating objective calls, the league hopes to change how referees manage games. Silver believes this will allow officials to dedicate their full concentration to “subjective” decisions.

A primary example of these subjective calls is determining whether specific player contact should be rated as a foul. These nuances are elements that cameras and AI cannot currently capture.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the true value of this transition lies in the redistribution of cognitive load for officials. By removing the pressure of objective boundary calls, the league is betting that the quality of subjective judgment—where the most controversy usually resides—could improve.

Implementation Timeline and Game Flow

While Silver indicated the change would happen “pretty soon,” It’s unlikely to be implemented in the upcoming season. The league may first introduce the system in the G League.

This phased rollout suggests it could take at least one more full season before the technology reaches the NBA level. The goal is to ensure the system is fully operational before wide adoption.

The league also expects a positive impact on the pace of play. Unlike the MLB’s ABS challenges, which can lengthen games, an automated out-of-bounds system is likely to accelerate NBA games by removing the need for manual reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific calls will the AI system handle?

The AI system will be used to make objective out-of-bounds decisions, determining which team maintains possession of the ball.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the referees, tanking and more 👀 | The Pat McAfee Show

When will this system be available in the NBA?

A precise date was not provided, but it is expected to happen “pretty soon.” It will likely be tested in the G League first, meaning it may be at least one full season before it arrives in the NBA.

How is this system expected to affect game speed?

The system is expected to speed up games because it will eliminate the need for manual reviews of out-of-bounds calls.

Do you believe automating objective calls will make professional basketball more fair?