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The NBA is testing out a couple of significant changes in the summer leagues this year, providing a testing ground for possible tweaks to the game.
As Zach Powell of The Athletic notes, it’s common for the summer leagues in California, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City to try out potential changes ahead of full implementation.
“It’s unclear whether these rules will be implemented in the NBA yet, but summer leagues have always been used as a trial-and-error space for testing new rules or policies,” Powell wrote.
The most visible proposed change involves free throws.
In this year’s summer leagues, a shooting foul will result in only one shot from the free throw line, though that shot will count for one, two or three points, depending on how many foul shots would be taken in the current NBA system.
Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) motions towards the net before attempting a technical foul free throw during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
So if a player is fouled while shooting a three, they still will be eligible to earn three points at the foul line, but they’ll have only one shot to either score all three or none at all.
During the last two minutes of regulation and in overtime, though, the traditional free throw rules remain in place.
The G League has used this rule since the 2019-20 season.
The NBA is also experimenting with a new basketball, one that “contains an embedded sensor to detect contact with the ball,” Ohm Youngmisuk wrote for ESPN.
“The league says the ball will provide data that will be collected to support future officiating applications, such as last-touch out-of-bounds calls,” Youngmisuk explained. “The sensor does not affect the weight, feel or playability of the ball.”
This technology, if effective, could conceivably cut down on lengthy reviews toward the end of games. Instead of using unclear slow-motion footage to see if the ball brushed a player’s hand or not, the sensor could quickly and accurately tell officials who touched the ball last.
It also could add yet another wrinkle for Los Angeles’ teams, who both lost major stars in trades and free agency and have been reassembling rosters at a rapid pace.
The post NBA Testing Big Changes in Summer League Play appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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As Zach Powell of The Athletic notes, it’s common for the summer leagues in California, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City to try out potential changes ahead of full implementation.
“It’s unclear whether these rules will be implemented in the NBA yet, but summer leagues have always been used as a trial-and-error space for testing new rules or policies,” Powell wrote.
Free throws award same points on fewer shots
The most visible proposed change involves free throws.
In this year’s summer leagues, a shooting foul will result in only one shot from the free throw line, though that shot will count for one, two or three points, depending on how many foul shots would be taken in the current NBA system.
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Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) motions towards the net before attempting a technical foul free throw during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
So if a player is fouled while shooting a three, they still will be eligible to earn three points at the foul line, but they’ll have only one shot to either score all three or none at all.
During the last two minutes of regulation and in overtime, though, the traditional free throw rules remain in place.
The G League has used this rule since the 2019-20 season.
A better way to determine possession
The NBA is also experimenting with a new basketball, one that “contains an embedded sensor to detect contact with the ball,” Ohm Youngmisuk wrote for ESPN.
“The league says the ball will provide data that will be collected to support future officiating applications, such as last-touch out-of-bounds calls,” Youngmisuk explained. “The sensor does not affect the weight, feel or playability of the ball.”
This technology, if effective, could conceivably cut down on lengthy reviews toward the end of games. Instead of using unclear slow-motion footage to see if the ball brushed a player’s hand or not, the sensor could quickly and accurately tell officials who touched the ball last.
It also could add yet another wrinkle for Los Angeles’ teams, who both lost major stars in trades and free agency and have been reassembling rosters at a rapid pace.
The post NBA Testing Big Changes in Summer League Play appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
