NBA Rules History 1980-Present

From Hoopedia

(Changes/clarifications implemented prior to season, except where noted)

(NOTE: This list is not comprehensive, especially pre-1993, but contains as many rules changes and clarifications as could be compiled from past releases, rulebooks and other sources.)

1980-81

20-second injury timeout eliminated such that each team is now entitled to one 20-second timeout per half, regardless of injury, for a total of two per game, including overtimes.
Red light, synchronized to light up when the horn sounds at the expiration of each period, added behind backboard.
Officials shall not permit any players to play with any type of hand, arm face, nose, ear, head, or neck jewelry. Safety rules clarified to include all facemasks and eye or nose protectors must conform to the contour of the face and have no sharp or protruding edges. Also, all equipment used by players must be appropriate for basketball and equipment that is unnatural and designed to increase a player’s height or reach, or to gain an advantage, shall not be used.
Any time a technical foul is called on the offensive team, the 24-second clock shall not be reset.

Previously, the 24-second clock would be reset regardless of whether the technical foul was charged to the offensive or defensive team.

The 24-second clock shall be reset after a zone warning.
Clarification added regarding free throws: a player shall not deflect or catch the ball before it reaches the basket.
On a flagrant foul, the coach of the offended team selects the free throw shooter.
The three-point field goal becomes a permanent rule.
If any period begins with teams lined up improperly and scores result from this error, all points will be deleted and the period re-started unless ten seconds have elapsed from the game clock. If ten seconds have elapsed, all points count and teams shoot for the same baskets.

1981-82

Zone defense rules clarified with new rules for Illegal Defensive Alignments.

a. Weak side defenders may come in the pro lane (16’), but not in the college lane (12’) for more than three seconds.

b. Defender on post player is allowed in defensive three-second area (A post player is any player adjacent to paint area).

c. Player without ball may not be double-teamed from weak side.

d. Offensive player above foul line and inside circle must be played by defender inside dotted line.

e. If offensive player is above the top of the circle, defender must come to a position above foul line.

f. Defender on cutter must follow the cutter, switch, or double-team the ball.

After the first illegal defense violation, the clock is reset to 24 seconds. All subsequent violations result in one free throw and possession of the ball. If any violation occurs during the last 24 seconds of each quarter or overtime period, the offended team receives one free throw.
If a foul committed by a player calls for a single free throw after a successful field goal in the penalty stage, no additional free throw will be allowed if the first foul attempt is missed.
Three free throws to make two; two to make one eliminated.
Players must report to the 8-foot box area in front of the scorer’s table before referee will beckon them into the game. Players were previously required to report “to the scorer.”
Backcourt fouls considered common fouls and two shots will only be awarded once offending team is over the limit.

1982-83

After the ball is out-of-bounds, the team, not the official, shall designate a player to make the throw-in.
On a throw-in, which is not touched inbounds, the ball is returned to the original throw-in spot, as opposed to the point where the ball crossed a boundary.

1983-84

If a 20-second timeout has been granted, and a mandatory timeout by the same team is due, only the mandatory timeout will be charged.
Locations of certain jump balls such as a double free-throw violation or when the ball lodges in a basket support changed.
The free thrower shall not purposely fake a free throw attempt.
If a shot is taken simultaneously with a whistle for an illegal defense, and is successful, the basket shall count and no penalty shall be imposed.

1984-85

The number of timeouts teams are allowed in overtime increased from two to three regardless of the number of timeouts called or remaining during the regulation play or previous overtimes.
If a foul is committed against any offensive player in his frontcourt, who has a clear path to the basket and is thereby deprived of the opportunity to score, a second free throw and possession of the ball out of bounds shall be awarded.
Fine increased from $100 to $500 for coaches and players who do not leave the court and go directly to their dressing rooms, without pause or delay, at halftime and the end of each game.
Fine increased from $150 to $500 for a player not in the game who does not remain in the vicinity of his team’s bench during a fight.

1988-89

Number of referees officiating game increased from two to three.

1990-91

Penalties for flagrant fouls increased such that an infraction is penalized by two free throw attempts and possession of the ball out-of-bounds. The offender may also be ejected if there is no apparent effort to play the ball and/or, in the official’s judgment, the contact was of such an excessive nature that an injury could have occurred. Ejected players will be automatically fined $250.
:00.3 must expire on the clock when a ball is inbounded and then hit instantly out-of-bounds
:00.3 is needed on the clock to catch the ball and shoot it into the basket whether the shot is made or not.
:00.3 must expire on the clock when a player gets possession of a missed free throw and immediately requests a timeout.
:00.1 is needed on the clock to tip the ball in the basket whether the shot is made or not.

1991-92

If a player suffers a laceration or wound where bleeding occurs, game officials will stop play and remove the injured player from the game. The player is then allowed to return after receiving appropriate medical attention.

1992-93

The 24-second clock is reset only when the basketball hits the rim.

:Previously, the clock would be reset if the ball hit either the rim or the backboard.

Either team, whether or not it has possession of the ball, may call a timeout when play is stopped to treat a player, who suffers a laceration or wound where bleeding occurs, and return him to the game without missing play. If that player’s team has no timeouts remaining, the officials will give the team twenty seconds to treat the wound. If treatment is not completed in that time, the player must be removed from the game.

1993 Playoffs

Any player who throws a punch now immediately ejected from the game, suspended for at least one game, and fined an appropriate dollar amount. Any player throwing a punch that connects with another player will be ejected from the game, suspended for a minimum of one to five games, and fined an appropriate dollar amount. Teams will also be fined an amount equal to the total sum of their players’ fines. Any player leaving the bench area during a fight will be fined $2,500, up from $500, and that player’s team will be fined $5,000 for each of its players who leave the bench area.

1993-94

“Five-point” flagrant foul rule implemented whereby if a player’s season total exceeds five points, he receives an automatic suspension following the game in which his point total exceeds five and for each additional flagrant foul committed during the season.

1994-95

Shortened the three-point line (22 feet in the corners extending to 23 feet, nine inches at the top of the key) to a uniform 22 feet around the basket.
Awarded three foul shots for any player fouled while attempting a three-point field goal.
Any player who leaves the bench during a fight automatically suspended for a minimum of one game and fined a maximum of $20,000; in addition to losing 1/82nd of his salary for each game, he is suspended.
Any player who commits two flagrant fouls in one game will be ejected.
Hand-checking eliminated from the end line in the backcourt to the opposite foul line.
Technical foul fines increased to $500 each. Formerly, the fines were $100 for the first technical and $150 for the second.
“Clear path” rule changed to include contact in the backcourt. If a defender, grabs a player when the player has a clear path to the basket on a breakaway, two foul shots will be awarded.
The second or more of back-to-back timeouts when the ball is not inbounded will be limited to 45 seconds.

1996-97

A team that calls timeout without having any remaining will be assessed a technical foul and lose possession of the ball.
No illegal defense violation may occur when the ball is in the backcourt.

1997-98

The three-point line, 22 feet from the basket, lengthened to its original distance of 23 feet, nine inches, except in the corners, where the distance remained 22 feet.
A defender will not be permitted to use his forearm to impede the progress of an offensive player who is facing the basket in the frontcourt.
A player will not be allowed to call timeout (regular or 20-second) if both of his feet are in the air and any part of his body has broken the vertical plane of the boundary line.
The “no-charge area,” formerly a two-by-six foot box where an offensive foul is not called if contact is made with a secondary defensive player who has established a defensive position, will be expanded to the area consisting of a half circle with a four-foot radius measured from the middle of the goal.
If two offensive players on the weak side are positioned above the top-of-the-circle extended, one of the two defenders may occupy any area on the weak side, except that he may not enter the inside lane other than to: aggressively double-team the ball, or defend an offensive player(s) who is open because of a double-team on the ball, or as a normal reaction to a “ball fake.” Following a “ball fake,” the defender must immediately return to a legal position or double-team on the ball.

Previously, if two offensive players are positioned above either, the tip-of-circle extended on the strong side or weak side of the court, both defenders had to be positioned above the free throw line.

1999-00

In the backcourt, there is no contact with hands and forearms by defenders. In the frontcourt, there is no contact with hands and forearms by defenders except below the free throw line extended in which case the defender may only use his forearm. In the post, neither the offensive player nor the defender is allowed to dislodge or displace a player who has legally obtained a position. Defender may not use his forearm, shoulder, hip or hand to reroute or hold-up an offensive player going from point A to point B or one who is attempting to come around a legal screen set by another offensive player. Slowing or impeding the progress of the screener by grabbing, clutching, holding “chucking” or “wrapping up” is prohibited.
The official(s) will visually commence a five-second count if an offensive player with the ball and not facing-up starts dribbling below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded; or if he starts dribbling outside and then penetrates below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded. The five-second count commences when the offensive player penetrates the free throw line extended. The penalty is the offensive team’s loss of possession of the ball.
If the shot clock is below 14 seconds, it is recycled to 14 seconds when a kicked ball, a punched ball, a common foul requiring no free throw attempts or an illegal defense requiring no free throw attempts occurs.
Any defense is legal on the strong side. Defenders must remain on the weak side outside the paint unless they are double-teaming the ball, picking up a free cutter or closely guarding an offensive player.

2000-01

The number of timeouts per team per game was changed to six from seven.
The number of fourth-period timeouts per team was changed to three from four.
The number of timeouts per team during the last two minutes of the fourth period or last two minutes of an overtime period was changed to two from three.
Full timeouts in regulation and overtime will be reduced from 100 to 60 seconds with the following exceptions: (1) the first two timeouts in each period, regardless of which team calls them. (2) the two mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth periods. In those two instances, timeouts will continue to be 100 seconds.

Previously all full timeouts were 100 seconds.

During 20-second timeouts in the last two minutes of the fourth period and/or any overtime period there are unlimited substitutions.

Previously the team calling the timeout could substitute one player. The other team could substitute only if the team calling timeout substituted.

After a change of possession in the last two minutes of regulation or any overtime period, the offensive team can call a regular or 20-second timeout and advance the ball to midcourt. The team has the option of inbounding the ball in the frontcourt or backcourt. If it passes into the backcourt, the 10-second rule applies.

Previously teams could advance the ball only by calling a regular timeout and had to inbound the ball into the frontcourt.

If neither team has taken a timeout in the second and fourth quarter when there is 8:59 remaining, there will be a mandatory timeout after the first dead ball. If neither team has taken a timeout in all four periods when there is 5:59 remaining, there will be a mandatory timeout after the first dead ball.

Previously, timeouts were taken after dead balls after 9:59 in the second and fourth periods and after 6:59 in every period.

If the offense retains possession after a jump ball, the clock is reset to 14 seconds or remains the same if there are more than 14 seconds on the clock. If the defense gains possession, the clock is reset to 24 seconds.

Previously, if the offense retained possession, the clock was reset to 24 seconds.)

If a player is fouled when he has a clear-path-to-the-basket, he gets one free throw and his team gets possession of the ball at midcourt.

Previously, the player received two free throws.

No contact with either hands or forearms by defenders except in the frontcourt below the free throw line extended in which case the defender may use his forearm only.
Neither the offensive player nor the defender will be allowed to dislodge or displace a player who has legally obtained a position.
Defender may not use his forearm, shoulder, hip or hand to reroute or hold-up an offensive player going from point A to Point B or one who is attempting to come around a legal screen set by another offensive player.
Slowing or impeding the progress of the screener by grabbing, clutching, holding “chucking” or “wrapping up” is prohibited.
A five-second count will begin if an offensive player with the ball and not facing-up starts dribbling below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded or starts dribbling outside and then penetrates below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded. (The five-second count commences when the offensive player penetrates the free throw line extended). After five seconds, a violation will have occurred and the offensive team will lose possession.
The shot clock shall remain as it is or be recycled to 14 seconds if it is below 14 for a common foul requiring no free throw attempts occurs, kicked or punched ball violation, or an illegal defense requiring no free throw attempts.
On the strongside, any defense is legal.
On the weakside, defenders must remain on the weakside outside the paint unless (i) they are double-teaming the ball, (ii) picking up a free cutter or (iii) closely guarding an offensive player.

2001-02

Illegal defense guidelines will be eliminated in their entirety.
A new defensive three-second rule will prohibit a defensive player from remaining in the lane for more than three consecutive seconds without closely guarding an offensive player.
The time that a team has to advance the ball past midcourt will be reduced from ten seconds to eight.
Brief contact initiated by a defensive player will be allowed if it does not impede the progress of the player with the ball.

2002-03

Use of instant replay to review certain last-second plays at the end of each quarter and overtime periods. Replays will be conducted and processed in two minutes or less by the game officials. Replays are triggered automatically – and not at the discretion of the officials or teams.

Instant replay will also be used when: (1) A foul for which the resulting free throws could affect the outcome of the game is called with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the fourth quarter or any overtime period or (2) A foul is called with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the first, second and third quarters.

In these situations, officials will review instant replay to determine only whether the called foul occurred prior to the expiration of time on the game clock and not whether the call itself was correct.

2003-04

For a 20-Second Timeout, the official shall instruct the timer to record the 20 seconds and to inform him when the time has expired.
If a team calls a 20-second timeout because one of its players is injured and, at the expiration of the 20-second timeout limit, play is unable to resume due to that player's injury, a full timeout will be charged to that team and 20-second timeout returned.
The 24-second clock shall remain the same as when play was interrupted or reset to 5 seconds, whichever is greater, any time on jump balls retained by the offensive team as the result of a held ball caused by the defense.

2004-05

New rules were introduced to curtail hand-checking, clarify blocking fouls and call defensive three seconds to open up the game.

Incomplete- needs reformatting with A-f points, and previously... indents

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