Referee Headset Communication to Enhance Officiating Accuracy in NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that referees will begin using headsets during games from Saturday, marking a major technological upgrade aimed at improving communication and officiating efficiency.

According to the league, the initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Basketball Referees Association, will be rolled out in two phases to refine real-time communication between on-court officials and the NBA Replay Centre.

Under the first phase, referees will have earpieces clipped to their uniforms and will be permitted to use them only during replay reviews or other stoppages, but not during live play.

The second phase, scheduled to commence in January, will expand headset use to cover entire games, enabling referees to maintain open communication with both the Replay Centre and one another at all times.

The NBA said the new communication system aims to “enhance the accuracy of officiating decisions and improve the overall flow of games.”

The trial will continue at least through the All-Star break in February, after which a comprehensive review will determine whether the system becomes a permanent fixture.

League officials confirmed that the technology had undergone extensive testing during the NBA’s preseason fixtures in the past two years, the NBA Summer League between 2023 and 2025, and the NBA G League Winter Showcase from 2022 to 2024.

The NBA described the move as part of its broader commitment to using innovation to support officiating transparency and maintain the integrity of the sport.