The 5 Most Confusing NBA Rules Explained

Some NBA rules are a lot different than basketball rules across various leagues. Fans are often left scratching their heads at some of the calls. Sometimes it's due to the complication of that particular violation or due to their presumption that the officiating is biased.

5 confusing NBA rules explained

We look at the five most confusing NBA rules and the explanation behind these violations in this article below.

#1. Clear Path

A clear-path foul occurs when none of the defensive team's players are ahead of the offensive team's player, who has an easy transition scoring opportunity. If a defensive player fouls on that play without being in front of the offensive player, referees award the latter two free throws and his team the possession of the ball from the side in-bounds exactly parallel to where the foul occurred.

The offensive player must have possession of the ball when he gets fouled in transition for it to be called a clear-path foul.

#2. Carry violation

The carry violation was once an easy call, but officials were lenient with it until this season. This has created a lot of controversy due to the low frequency at which the calls have been made. A carry violation occurs when a player in possession of the ball puts any part of his hand under the ball, continues his movement, pauses and continues dribbling.

#3. Timeouts

Timeouts are crucial in the NBA. Coaches call for a timeout to talk things over after their team loses momentum. Each team has seven timeouts available in regulation. The two teams will only have four timeouts in the fourth and two in the final three minutes of the last quarter. Two timeouts will be available for each team in overtime.

NBA teams cannot call for excessive timeouts. If a team runs out of their allotted quota and calls for a timeout, they will be assessed a technical foul. The opposition will receive a free throw and possession after the FT attempt. The ball will get inbounded from the nearest spot from where the play was interrupted.

#4. Take foul

Fans often get confused between the take foul and clear path foul. A take foul occurs when a defender doesn't make a play on the ball and fouls the offensive player's transition scoring opportunity or immediately following a change of possession and before the offensive team has the opportunity to advance the ball.

The penalty for this foul is one free throw and possession to the team of the player who gets fouled from the side inbounds based on where the foul occurred.

#5. Offensive foul by jump shooter

Drawing fouls in the NBA isn't as easy as it was before the 2021-22 season. Jump shooters initiated illegal contact with the defensive player to draw fouls by leaning into their body after faking a shot. Referees have stopped calling these over the past two seasons.

The offensive player can also get called for a foul if the contact is deemed marginal by the referee, it could also result in an offensive foul.