NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Proposes AI System to Replace Human Referees for Line Calls

The NBA has struggled with player flopping—exaggerated falls to draw fouls—throughout recent seasons. The 2026 playoffs saw flopping intensify, prompting league officials to seek technological solutions to improve call accuracy.

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Adam Silver announced that the NBA will deploy an AI system to handle objective line calls, such as out-of-bounds. Cameras around the court will automatically render decisions, removing those calls from human referees.

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During the 2026 playoffs, flopping surged, with a player falling on roughly one in ten field-goal attempts. In Game 5 in Oklahoma City, referees missed a crucial out-of-bounds call and refused to overturn it after review, fueling criticism.

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• 2026 playoffs: flopping reaches epidemic levels.

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• Game 5, Oklahoma City: missed out-of-bounds call.

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• Post-game: Silver discusses AI on the Pat McAfee Show.

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• Following days: fans post criticism on X.

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Flopping occurs on about 10 % of field-goal attempts. Sony’s Hawk-Eye system, cited as a model, claims 0.1-inch accuracy. Automatic line calls could cut game-stop time and limit disputes, but reliance on technology may shift fan perception of officiating integrity. Silver emphasized the system would supplement, not replace, human officials for objective calls.

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Silver defended current officiating as incredible while noting the need for faster replay solutions. He described the AI system as a supplement for objective calls, comparing it to Hawk-Eye and emphasizing its instantaneous operation.

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A Los Angeles Lakers fan expressed opposition to AI, saying they do not want AI in the basketball game. Writer Noah Kulwin argued the plan could erode confidence in the product, calling Silver possibly the worst commish in sports.

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Silver’s claim that officiating is “incredible” conflicts with fan reports of missed calls and pervasive flopping. Sources do not provide a rollout schedule, cost, or integration details, leaving key implementation questions unanswered.

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• “The officiating is incredible,” — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

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• “I think, in terms of replay, I think we’re going to get to the point fairly quickly where, for example out-of-bounds… where, just like [when] you’re a tennis fan and they have Hawk-Eye… we’re gonna move to a system like that, where that whole category of calls will be automatic.” — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

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• “It’ll just be instantaneous, it’ll be automatic, just play on, y’know, let’s go, Spurs in-bounds, and you move on.” — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

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• “Idc how much I complain about the refs, I don’t want AI in my basketball game,” — Los Angeles Lakers fan, X

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• “It’s like everything he says is supposed to be a way to decrease confidence in the product,” — Noah Kulwin, writer and New York Knicks devotee

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Silver said camera arrays will be installed league-wide and the AI could be operational “fairly quickly” after testing, though no specific timeline was disclosed.

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