LOS ANGELES — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is preparing to automate out-of-bounds rulings with an artificial-intelligence system that uses cameras positioned around the court. Silver outlined the plan during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” before All-Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome on Feb. 14, 2026.
According to the commissioner, the technology will function much like the Hawk-Eye system employed in professional tennis, instantly determining which team should retain possession. “We’re heading to a point where those objective calls will be made automatically,” Silver said, adding that referees would then be able to devote full attention to judgment calls involving player contact.
The league has not announced a launch date, but Silver’s detailed description suggests implementation could come sooner rather than later. Coaches would no longer need to use challenges on boundary plays, and on-court officials would rely on the system’s immediate verdicts—“Laker ball, Knick ball, Thunder ball,” Silver noted—allowing games to resume without delay.
Lakers Begin Workforce Reductions
In a separate development, the Los Angeles Lakers have laid off more than a dozen employees across marketing, team communications, content production and corporate partnerships. The moves, reported Wednesday, are part of a broader reorganization under new controlling owner Mark Walter.
Source: LakersNation.com
