New Free Throw Rule to be Tested
The NBA Summer League will implement a new “one free throw rule” this year, a change designed to accelerate game play. This rule will be used in summer league games taking place in Salt Lake City, Northern California, and Las Vegas. Under this new system, any foul that would typically result in one, two, or three free throws will instead lead to a single free-throw attempt. This single attempt will be worth the same total number of points as the multiple free throws it replaces.
The rule will not apply for the entire game. Standard free-throw rules, such as two shots for a two-shot foul, will remain in effect for the final two minutes of fourth quarters and throughout any overtime periods. The G League has utilized this rule since the 2019-20 season, suggesting its potential to achieve its goal without significant disruption. The summer league often serves as a testing ground for potential rule changes before they are considered for full NBA implementation.
Past rule adjustments that originated in the G League and Summer League before being adopted by the NBA include the coaches’ challenge, the resetting of the 24-second shot clock to 14 seconds in offensive rebound scenarios, and the one-shot award for a transition take foul. This latter rule addresses situations where a defender intentionally commits a foul to stop an opponent’s transition opportunity.
Connected Basketball Technology Introduced
In addition to the free throw rule, the league announced that a “connected basketball” will be part of the summer league trials. This basketball features an embedded sensor designed to detect contact with the ball. The league stated that the sensor is not noticeable and does not alter the ball’s feel or playability, with any weight difference being minimal.
The primary purpose of this connected basketball is to collect data. This data is intended to support future officiating applications, such as assisting with last-touch out-of-bounds calls. The trial period will provide insights into how this technology performs in a game setting.
Summer League Schedule Highlights
The summer league schedule is set to begin with the California Classic on Friday, hosted by the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Games will be held in San Francisco and Sacramento through Monday. Teams participating in San Francisco include Golden State, Miami, San Antonio, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Sacramento will host a second Golden State team, along with Sacramento, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee.
The Salt Lake City Summer League will feature games on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Teams involved are Utah, Atlanta, Memphis, and Oklahoma City. Notable players expected to participate include Darryn Peterson of the Jazz, who was the No. 2 draft pick, and Cameron Boozer of Memphis, the No. 3 pick.
The official NBA Summer League, which includes all 30 teams playing at least five games, is scheduled to run from July 9 through July 19 in Las Vegas. No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa is slated to make his summer debut on July 9 when Washington plays Utah, potentially setting up a matchup against Peterson.
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Source: nba.com
