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Starting Saturday, NBA referees will use headsets during games to facilitate real-time communication with the NBA replay center and each other, the league announced on Friday. This initiative, in collaboration with the National Basketball Referees Association, introduces a two-phase process aimed at enhancing game flow and improving officiating accuracy. In the first phase, referees will have an earpiece clipped to their uniforms. They can unclip the earpiece and place it in their ears during instant replay reviews and other game stoppages but not during live play. After evaluating the results of the initial phase, the second phase will commence in January, allowing referees to wear earpieces throughout the game, including during live play. In this phase, referees will be able to communicate directly with the replay center and each other at all times during the game. This phase will continue at least through the NBA All-Star Game break in February. The technology was tested during preseason games over the past two seasons, the NBA Summer League from 2023-2025, and the developmental NBA G League Winter Showcase from 2022-2024.
