What changes is the NBA reportedly considering in the overtime rules?
The NBA is considering a drastic change to its overtime rules, in order to prevent games from running too long, while also allowing for today’s load management strategies.
Basketball fans may soon have to get accustomed to some very different overtime rules if the NBA has its way. As things stand, both the NBA and NBPA are planning on implementing among other things, a “target score,” while also addressing the league’s Draft age limit.
The NBA seeks to alter OT while changing “one-and-done”
According to reports, the NBA and NBAPA are weighing up the idea of implementing a “target score” for overtime. “That 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.” In case you missed it, that game was the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
Besides the new target score rule, there is also the question of the “one-and-done” rule, something which league commissioner, Adam Silver, has stated he would like to address. If you’re not sure what that is, it was back in 2005 when then-commissioner David Stern implemented a rule, that required players to be 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. The direct result of Stern’s move, created the now infamous ‘one-and-done’ scenario which has since led to many college prospects seeking out a career overseas as opposed to taking their chances in the NBA after a single season in college. Needless to say, the system has come in for a great deal of critique. To that end, Silver has been advocating for the age limit to be returned to 18, which would in turn allow high school players to enter the NBA’s Draft.
What’s this about a coach’s challenge?
Another rule that the league appears to be thinking of altering is that of the “coach’s challenge.” Since the 2019-20 season, coaches in the league are allowed to “trigger one instant replay review per game of a called foul, called out-of-bounds violation or called goaltending or basket interference violation.” As things stand, the NBA is considering the idea of allowing teams to keep their challenge and use it again if the challenge is successful. There has been no official word on when these rule changes might be implemented, but rest assured they will definitely shake things up if and when they are.