Adam Silver reveals the real reason why NBA players don’t wear fitness trackers during games

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has shed light on why NBA players refrain from wearing fitness trackers during games. Despite the surge in popularity of fitness technology over the past decade, NBA athletes never wear these trackers during regular-season or playoff games. This is not due to any opposition from the league, but rather a concern from the players' union.

Silver explains that the NBA is currently in discussions with the players association regarding the use of wearables during games. The players, who wear these devices while warming up or in their daily lives to monitor aspects such as sleep, express apprehension about the potential misuse of the data during games. They are concerned that tracking a player's diminishing fitness levels could be used to their disadvantage in negotiations with their respective teams.

This fear is rooted in the possibility that a player's declining performance could be quantified, putting them in a weak position when discussing contract renewals or extensions. Commissioner Silver is keen to find a solution to this issue, but it would require the NBPA to agree to the implementation of this technology. Unless the union finds a compelling reason to support this change, it would not be in their best interest to allow players to potentially harm their earning potential by revealing their physical decline. Therefore, for now, NBA players continue to forego wearing fitness trackers during games.