Tokyo Olympics 2020: 5 Major rule differences between the NBA and Olympic basketball

#2 Time outs

At the Olympics, only the coaches can call for time-outs.

The difference in timeouts with regards to regular international rules set by the FIBA as opposed to the one set by the NBA is quite important.

The ones set by the FIBA that are implied in the Olympics are pretty straightforward. Here each team gets two timeouts in the first half of the game and three time outs in the second half of the game, apart from just one in the overtime period. Each timeout lasts a minute.

In the NBA, seven timeouts can be called throughout the game, each of which are 75 seconds in length. Additionally, a maximum of two timeouts can be called in the final three minutes of the 4th quarter. In case of overtime, each team is allowed an additional two timeouts each.

Another crucial difference is that, in the NBA, even a player can call a timeout whenever he feels the situation demands a break. However, in other FIBA based events, only the coach is allowed to call for timeouts.

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#3 3-point line distinction rule

During the NBA the three point line is set at a longer distance than at the olympics

At the Olympics, the NBA stars enjoy a shorter distance from the point arc which is at 22 feet and 1.75 inches at the top of the arc and 21 feet and 8 inches from the corners.

In the NBA, the arc is set at 23 feet and 9 inches at the top of the arc and at 22 feet from the corners. This in turn means that at the Olympics, the players have to cover a shorter distance while protecting the arc from good shooters.