Section 7: Violations/Penalties
Personal Fouls
A personal foul is illegal physical contact by a player against an opponent. Personal fouls include holding, pushing, charging, blocking, hand-checking, and illegal screens. Each player is allowed a maximum of 6 personal fouls per game; upon committing a sixth foul, the player is disqualified ("fouled out") and must leave the game.
Team Fouls and the Bonus
- Each team's personal fouls are tracked per quarter. When a team commits 5 or more fouls in a quarter, the opposing team enters the "bonus" (also called the penalty).
- While in the bonus, all subsequent non-offensive defensive fouls result in 2 free throws for the fouled player, regardless of whether the foul occurred during a shot attempt.
- Team fouls reset to zero at the start of each quarter. In overtime, the team foul count resets for each overtime period.
Flagrant Fouls
- Flagrant Foul 1 (unnecessary contact): Contact that is unnecessary but not excessive. Penalty: 2 free throws and possession for the offended team. The play is reviewable by officials and the Replay Center.
- Flagrant Foul 2 (unnecessary and excessive contact): Contact that is both unnecessary and excessive. Penalty: 2 free throws, possession for the offended team, and immediate ejection of the offending player. The player may face additional fines and suspension from the league office.
- Flagrant foul points accumulate throughout the season. A player who accumulates a specified number of flagrant foul points is subject to automatic suspension.
Technical Fouls
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: Taunting, excessive arguing with officials, using profanity, or engaging in actions that disrespect the game
- Delay of game: Interfering with the ball after a made basket, failing to immediately pass the ball to the nearest official after a violation
- Illegal defense: Historically penalized (pre-2001 zone defense ban), this is no longer a violation in the current NBA rules
- Hanging on the rim: A player may not hang on the rim unless doing so is necessary to avoid injury to themselves or another player
- Penalty: 1 free throw plus possession for the offended team. A player who receives 2 technical fouls in a game is automatically ejected. A player who accumulates 16 technical fouls during the regular season receives an automatic one-game suspension, with additional suspensions for every subsequent two technicals.
Ball-Handling Violations
- Traveling: Moving one's pivot foot or taking more than two steps without dribbling the ball. The NBA allows a "gather step" — once a player gathers the ball (picks up the dribble or catches a pass), they may take two additional steps before stopping, passing, or shooting.
- Double dribble: Dribbling the ball, stopping, and then dribbling again. Also called for dribbling with both hands simultaneously.
- Carrying (palming): Allowing the ball to rest momentarily in the palm or turning the hand over (under the ball) while dribbling, gaining an illegal advantage in ball control.
- Kicked ball: Intentionally striking the ball with any part of the leg or foot. Accidental contact with the foot is not a violation.
Timing Violations
- Shot clock violation (24 seconds): Failure to attempt a shot that hits the rim within 24 seconds of gaining possession
- Backcourt violation (10 seconds): Failure to advance the ball past the half-court line within 10 seconds of gaining possession in the backcourt
- 5-second inbound violation: Failure to pass the ball inbounds within 5 seconds
- 5-second closely guarded violation: Holding the ball for 5 seconds while being closely guarded (within 6 feet) without dribbling, passing, or shooting (note: this rule applies only to holding, not to dribbling in the NBA)
Lane Violations
- Offensive three-second violation: An offensive player may not remain in the paint (the key / free throw lane) for more than 3 consecutive seconds while their team has possession of the ball in the frontcourt. The count resets when the player exits the lane, a shot is attempted, or there is a loss of team control.
- Defensive three-second violation: A defensive player may not remain in the paint for more than 3 consecutive seconds unless they are actively guarding an offensive player within arm's reach. Penalty: a technical foul assessed to the offending team (1 free throw to the opposing team). This rule was introduced in the 2001-2002 season to open up driving lanes.
Goaltending and Basket Interference
- Defensive goaltending: A defender may not touch the ball while it is on its downward arc toward the basket, above the rim level, or after it has touched the backboard. If a defensive goaltending violation occurs, the basket counts automatically.
- Offensive goaltending / basket interference: An offensive player may not touch the ball while it is on or within the cylinder above the rim, or touch the rim or net while the ball is on or within the basket. If an offensive violation occurs, the basket is disallowed.
Other Violations
- Out of bounds: The ball is out of bounds when it touches the floor, a player, or any object on or outside the boundary line. Possession is awarded to the opposing team of the player who last touched the ball.
- Backcourt violation (over and back): Once the ball is established in the frontcourt, the offensive team may not cause the ball to return to the backcourt. Penalty: turnover.
- Illegal screen (moving pick): An offensive player setting a screen must be stationary; if they are moving or leaning into the defender when contact occurs, a foul is called on the screener.