Adam Silver believes the NBA can use AI to remove certain objective calls from referees while keeping judgment plays in human hands.
The timing matters because officiating complaints have only grown louder during the playoffs. Fans want fewer missed possession calls, fewer long reviews and fewer moments where a coach’s challenge becomes the story.
Silver’s answer is not to replace referees. It is to let technology handle the calls, and cameras can clearly decide.
Adam Silver wants NBA AI to settle possession calls before referees become the story
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Silver explained that the league is moving toward automated decisions for a full category of calls.
“We’re going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will be automatic,” Silver said.
He added, “It’s going to be Laker ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court.”
That would directly target out-of-bounds and possession calls, the kind of decisions that often create the most frustration because replay usually shows a clear answer.
The NBA has already been leaning into automated officiating tools, using advanced camera systems and tracking technology to help with objective decisions such as sideline plays, baseline touches and goaltending reviews.
For fans angry about poor officiating, the appeal is obvious. If the ball clearly goes off one player, the league wants the system to say so quickly without a long replay debate.
Adam Silver knows NBA AI cannot replace referees on foul judgment
Silver also made clear that automation has limits, especially when contact is involved.
“It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees. You won’t have to deal with challenges on those calls,” the NBA commissioner continued.
“There’s often contact on every play, but that doesn’t mean there’s a foul on every play. That’s something that can’t just be done on camera,” Silver concluded.
That distinction is the key to the plan. AI can identify who touched the ball last, but it cannot fully judge force, timing, advantage or whether contact rises to the level of a foul.
That means referees will still decide the most difficult parts of NBA officiating. The goal is to free them from obvious camera-based calls so they can focus more clearly on judgment plays.
Silver’s message is not that AI will fix every complaint. It is that the NBA wants technology to remove the easiest arguments first, then leave the hardest basketball decisions to officials.
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