The full extent of Victor Wembanyama's defensive mastery may soon be known

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is already the league's most dominant shot blocker, and a potential change to officiating could make him even better. The NBA is reportedly considering using a smart basketball, outfitted with a chip to more accurately determine out-of-bounds calls and goaltending beginning in 2027-28.

Some of Wembanyama's potential blocks tend to get called as goaltending. Having a more accurate way to determine whether they actually are could help both him and the Spurs tremendously.

Obviously, that could help with challenging calls, as well as in the last two minutes of games and in overtime, when officials can review plays.

Victor Wembanyama may soon be called for fewer goaltending calls

The NBA has long been criticized for the time it takes for officials to review calls. Hopefully, by utilizing smart technology, they can speed up the process. More importantly, it could hopefully speed up the game and lead to more accurate calls.

Especially if the NBA adopts a technology similar to what you see in professional tennis. Having a coach challenge a goaltending call and see in real time whether or not it actually was could add more intrigue to the game as well as speed it up.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama is often called for goaltending, even though some of those calls are borderline at best. If this new technology allows for goaltending to be more actively called, then it could make him an even more dominant shot blocker.

Wembanyama could be an even more dominant shot blocker

If the Spurs have the opportunity to challenge Wembanyama's goaltending calls by using smart tech, it could make him all the more impactful. Opposing teams already have enough trouble scoring against him and often claim that he is goaltending.

However, taking that call out of officials' hands and using smart tech to make those decisions seems like the best-case scenario. With Wembanyama having already led the league in blocks and blocks per game in each of the last three seasons, he doesn't need any help in that area.

Still, the league seems to be listening to criticism surrounding its officiating and the time it takes to review calls. If they ultimately decide to use this technology to help determine out-of-bounds and goaltending calls, Wembanyama could be the big beneficiary of the change.

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