Basketball, at its core, is a dynamic interplay of offense and defense, a constant evolution where players innovate, and the rules committee, in turn, adapts. For the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season, this dance continues with a significant new emphasis on how 3-point shooting fouls are officiated. This change isn`t merely a tweak; it`s a direct response to a decade of escalating 3-point attempts and the often-contentious defensive tactics employed against them.
The Rise of the Three and the Art of the “Grift”
Over the past ten years, the 3-point shot has transformed the NBA. From a respectable 22.4 attempts per game in 2014-15, it soared to a record 37.6 last season. With this volumetric explosion came a predictable corollary: an increase in fouls on these shots. For defenses, a foul on a 3-point attempt is arguably the most punishing play in basketball – three free throws, offering the highest points-per-possession potential. This reality has, understandably, led to players becoming rather adept at drawing these fouls.
Enter the “grift.” Shooters, acutely aware of the referees` tendencies and the high stakes involved, have mastered the art of contorting their bodies, hollering, and generally dramatizing contact in a way that would make a Broadway actor blush. The goal is simple: convince the official that legitimate contact occurred, securing three free throws, often in situations where the shot might not have fallen. While tactically brilliant, it frequently elicits groans from fans and players alike, who perceive it as an artificial inflation of scoring and an interruption of fluid play.
The NBA`s Surgical Strike: Distinguishing Incidental from Intentional
For years, a common defensive maneuver known as the “high five” closeout allowed defenders to make what was deemed “incidental contact” with a shooter`s hand or arm during their follow-through, after the ball had been released, without a foul being called. The logic was that the contact occurred too late to affect the shot itself. However, as NBA Senior Vice President of Referee Development and Training Monty McCutchen recently clarified, this interpretation is undergoing a crucial revision.
The key for the 2025-26 season lies in a new concept: “secondary contact.” If a defender doesn`t just brush a shooter`s hand but instead makes a deliberate swipe or a secondary motion after the ball has left the shooter`s hand, it will now be considered an illegal play and a defensive foul. This distinction is subtle yet profound. An example provided by the league illustrated a play where a defender made significant contact with a shooter`s arm during the follow-through, a play that would have been a no-call previously, but will now result in a foul.
Think of it this way: a light touch as hands naturally meet in space will likely remain incidental. But a distinct, aggressive motion aimed at the shooter`s arm or hand, even post-release, crosses the line. The league is drawing a clearer boundary between competitive play and potentially disruptive, or even dangerous, contact.
Beyond the Whistle: Player Safety and Unnecessary Aggression
While curbing the “grift” is one aspect, a more serious undercurrent to this rule change is player safety. Last season saw instances where defensive players were accused of exploiting the “incidental contact” rule, intentionally targeting shooters` hands or thumbs post-release. One notable example involved then-Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, who was perceived by many, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, as deliberately striking Stephen Curry`s injured thumb.
Kerr`s prescient comments in May highlighted the looming danger: “It’s only a matter of time before somebody breaks a thumb or hand.” Lo and behold, the league listened. The new emphasis explicitly states that secondary motions deemed “excessive and/or unnecessary” could escalate to a flagrant foul. The league even used footage of Dillon Brooks making such a motion in its instructional video – a rather pointed “astonishing coincidence,” one might say.
This development underscores the NBA`s commitment to protecting its most valuable assets: the players. In a league increasingly reliant on skilled shooters, allowing defensive tactics that risk injury to shooting hands is simply untenable.
The Game Ahead: More Fouls, More Free Throws, More Adjustments?
What does this mean for the upcoming season? Initially, expect an increase in fouls on 3-point shots and, consequently, more free throws. Referees, with a new point of emphasis, tend to err on the side of caution, especially early in the season, to establish the new standard. This might lead to a somewhat slower game flow, at least until players and coaches fully adapt to the revised officiating. Defenders will need to refine their closeout techniques, focusing on verticality and body positioning rather than relying on late hand interference.
For basketball purists who already bemoan the proliferation of free throws, this might feel like adding fuel to the fire. However, the intent is clear: to foster a safer environment and to ensure that fouls are called for genuinely illegal contact, not just for opportunistic “grifts” or potentially injurious swipes.
The NBA continues its perpetual evolution, with rules constantly adapting to the game played on the court. This latest change is a testament to that ongoing process, an attempt to fine-tune the balance between aggressive defense, offensive artistry, and player well-being. The 2025-26 season promises to be a fascinating chapter in this ever-unfolding narrative.
