NBA Rumors: Likely rule change will enable coaches to keep their challenge if successful from 2023-24 season

The NBA is constantly looking to make minor rule changes to improve the quality for fans, coaches and players. Most agree that one of the most positive changes in recent memory was the implementation of the “coach’s challenge,” starting in the 2019-20 NBA season.

The challenge allows coaches to challenge one call made by officials each game that they feel is incorrect, in an attempt to have it overturned. The only problem with the rule is that coaches only get one challenge per game, whether the challenge is successful or not.

However, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, this rule may be tweaked starting next season to allow coaches to keep their challenge if successful:

“Per several sources, next season's most likely rule change will enable coaches to keep their challenge if successful. The primary concern is keeping games at roughly two hours, 15 minutes. While challenges may average approximately 90 seconds, they can spike to six minutes or even longer,” Pincus wrote.

As Pincus noted, there has been concern about additional coaches' challenges extending the length of games. However, the rule change would likely lead to fewer blown calls early on in games.

This comes as coaches often save their challenges for late-game situations. But with the rule change, coaches will be able to challenge egregious missed calls early in games while maintaining their challenges for later on. This would provide the NBA with a way to reward coaches while also eliminating fan frustration with referees.

It remains to be seen if the NBA will implement the new rule. But as of now, it looks like there’s a good chance the league will do so by the start of next season.

Another potential NBA rule change

LA Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard

Outside of tweaking the coach's challenge, the NBA is also considering implementing a target score in overtime, according to Eric Pincus. Pincus explained that this would limit the amount of time an overtime game would be extended. Pincus also noted that the NBA has experimented with the rule change in the NBA G League and has received positive results:

“Another potential change could be the use of a target score, but just for overtime. The G League has experimented with the rule in overtime during the regular season and for fourth quarters during the Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. In comparing regular overtime from the 2021-22 season to target-score overtime pre-Showcase, the length dipped from 13 minutes on average to 8.5,” Pincus wrote.

Pincus added that the response from people around the league regarding the potential change has been “generally favorable.”

This comes as it would "prevent overlong broadcasts and overloading player minutes, like Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard's playing 46 minutes in a double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday."

A target score rule change would likely be very controversial among NBA fans who value the tradition of the game. However, it looks like the change is a real possibility as the league continues to prioritize players' long-term health.