A new era in the NBA will begin next season as the competition committee approved the use of a coach’s challenge.
The official word on NBA rules changes for next season: pic.twitter.com/FI1t1glfXt
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 10, 2019
All 30 NBA teams supported the decision, and after being tested for the previous two years in the NBA’s G League, the new rule was used in this year’s summer league. The rule will be implemented in the NBA in 2019-20, and it’s going to be on a one-year trial basis.
The challenge can be used once per game to question a variety of plays, including a called personal foul on the coach’s own team, goaltending or basket interference and an out-of-bounds call. Coaches can use the challenge at any point during the game. However, in the last two minutes of the final quarter or overtime, any goaltending, basket-interference or out of bounds calls will be automatically reviewed and cannot be challenged.
A team must have a timeout available and call it after the play to challenge a particular play. If a team is without a timeout and tries to challenge a play, no challenge will occur while the team will be charged a technical foul. There must be clear and conclusive visual evidence to overturn the referee’s initial call.
Sources: The NBA Board of Governors have passed the implementation of in-game challenge flags for head coaches for the 2019-20 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 9, 2019
The other rule change concerning replays now allows for a review of two types of play: a potential shot-clock violation, and whether a shot is a two or three-pointer. The league’s replay center will be set in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Also, the league will now have a “courtside administrator,” a new position hired and supervised by the NBA’s league office. It will be positioned at the scorer’s table to accelerate the communication between the on-court referees and the replay center.
If both rules prove to be successful in the 2019-20 campaign, the NBA will begin to use them on a full-time basis in the future.
