Adam Silver Reveals Plans for AI-Automated Officiating System in NBA Future
Officiating in the NBA has long been a major topic of discussion among fans and analysts. In the 2026 playoffs, there have been several plays that many believe should've either been called or gone the other way.
Adam Silver, the league commissioner, was asked by Pat McAfee on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday what he thought could be done to improve officiating. He brought up a specific play that happened in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Late in the third quarter, the ball bounced on Chet Holmgren's foot, but the officials gave the possession to the Thunder. The Spurs tried to challenge it, but it was too late, and the game continued.
Adam Silver Addresses the Future of NBA Officiating
Silver told McAfee that the NBA will soon incorporate an AI technology as part of his desire to enhance how games are officiated.
"We're gonna move to a system like that, where that whole category of calls will be automatic…" Silver said. "Those calls will be done by an AI automated system, with cameras lying around the court. And it will take all of those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees. It'll be instantaneous, it'll be automatic. Just play on… You won't have to deal with challenges on those calls."
"Flopping has been a conversation..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 27, 2026
There's a difference between selling a call, exaggeration, and a true flop..
Officials can be fooled sometimes but our officiating is incredible" ~ Adam Silver #PrimetimeSportspic.twitter.com/V0XLwaTWjo
Silver said that it will be something similar to Hawk-Eye, the computer vision system used in baseball, cricket, tennis and other sporting events.
McAfee also asked the commissioner about his thoughts on flopping. It has frustrated several fans about how often players flail and fall on the court. Silver recognized this and admitted that even he has difficulty in determining whether a certain player flops or not.
He said that players are taught to sell calls, which makes it challenging for officials to determine whether a player flopped or not. However, Silver continues to believe in the improvement of how games are officiated.
"Can officiating get better? Of course, we're always working on that," Silver said. "Can officials get fooled occasionally? We're always looking that as well. The officiating is incredible."
Silver also sees technology as a helpful tool to assist referees in making the right calls, especially when it comes to flopping. He said that it will make the officials' jobs easier to concentrate on more subjective plays.
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 8:03 PM.