NBA replay reviews can take much longer than expected. The referees make their way over to the table, connect to the Replay Center in Secaucus, N.J., and examine the tape. Challenges and under-two-minute reviews prolong the contest and disrupt the game flow. However, the league is implementing a change to accelerate this process and improve referees’ abilities to get the call right.
How Does the NBA Plan to Solve These Issues?
On Oct. 31, the NBA announced its plan. Starting on Nov. 1, officials will wear headsets that allow them to communicate with each other and the Replay Center.
Beginning with tomorrow’s games, NBA referees will use headsets to communicate in real time with the NBA Replay Center and one another.
The new communication system is designed to improve game flow and enhance officiating accuracy.
📰Full release: https://t.co/5M3RPWxbAB pic.twitter.com/UZVKKWf0JR
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 31, 2025
This move is just phase one in the league’s two-phase solution to improve “game flow and enhance officiating accuracy.” According to the league’s press release, Officials will wear earpieces clipped to their shirts. However, they will only utilize them during replay review or other stoppages- not when the clock runs.
If the first phase is successful, the league plans on implementing the second in the 2026 portion of the season. This includes referees wearing their earpieces throughout the contest, even during live play. This enables them to have constant communication with the Replay Center and each other. The second phase “will run through at least the NBA All-Star break in February.”
Similar to Major League Baseball testing its automated balls/strike system in spring training, the NBA experimented with this new system in lower-stakes environments. It implemented the technology in the preseason, summer league, and the G-League Winter Showcase.
Fans Likely Notice a Difference Down the Stretch of Tight Games
Depending on the situation, officials may no longer have to huddle before going to the table. They could confirm what the head referee is looking for in the replay via their earpieces. This would speed up lengthy reviews and avoid disrupting the flow of a tight, engaging contest in the fourth qaurter.
Game 2 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers provides a perfect example. The final 90 seconds of the game took a shocking 33 minutes. Both teams combined to score five field goals, the same number as the replay reviews. The NBA hopes to avoid these scenarios in the future after it begins phase one of its plan.
Notably, the NBA released information on coach’s challenges at the end of the 2024-25 season, which revealed that 62.7 percent of the overall calls were eventually overturned by officials following review. These numbers clearly show how the latest arrangement is going to have a positive impact on the game.