For years, some of the NBA’s biggest stars have exploited the officiating to draw fouls and get easy points at the line. While the practice has always existed, modern-day players seem to be especially reliant on it, to the point where fans and media members started to get sick of guys cheating the game.
In response, the league is implementing a number of changes this season, designed to stop rewarding offensive players who initiate contact with their defenders.
NBA officiating staffs will be trained to identify and properly rule overt non-basketball actions to initiate contact with defender — such as offensive player launches into defender, abruptly veers off path, kicks leg at abnormal angle, or his off-arm hooks defender.
With the preseason finally in motion, we’re getting the chance to see some of these new rules in action.
Already, Steph Curry was denied a call at the three-point line after seemingly jumping into a defender.
NOT THIS YEAR. goodbye jumping into the defender fouls. pic.twitter.com/FW47gdk0rl
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 5, 2021
Steph not getting the call, “not this year.”
(h/t @_Talkin_NBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 5, 2021
This is obviously just the beginning, and it’s clear that the new rules will take some getting used to for a lot of these players.
In this particular case, fans celebrated the no-call as a welcome change.
https://twitter.com/basicallyicam/status/1445215122700611588
I love to see this!
— Brandon Rubio (@ruebeoh) October 5, 2021
Now Players like Harden, Trae Young, Curry himself and a lot of the top scorers in general are now finished. I actually Love this.
— DC Clutch (@ClutchHoops_YT) October 5, 2021
PLEASE enforce it JUST like this in the reg season and going forward.. this nonsense has to be stopped, enough rewarding guys for this and they’ll stop doing it!
— Facts on Facts (@factsonfactspod) October 5, 2021
I’m dead 💀
— J_P 🇵🇷 (@Currys_Turn) October 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/Steevn_x/status/1445214804768067588
No more flopping 🤡
— DJ.Taco (@THE_ELITE_TACO) October 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/twoyboy/status/1445216109079130113
That needs to be an offensive foul. But the crazy thing about Steph is he def jumps into guys but he actually tries to make those shots. He's mad when he misses em.
Unlike Harden who frequently jumps and flails into guys as a bailout, not even trying to make the shot.
— BlacKanSeyKo (@BlackXtian) October 5, 2021
Trae Young and Harden are SHAKING
— stoinky (@Crotty__) October 5, 2021
thank god 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— ً (@JuTunnels) October 5, 2021
It just makes way more sense to stop rewarding offensive players with foul calls when they’re the ones who initiate contact.
Not only will it force guys to get more creative with their attempts, but it will also help the game move faster, which is more entertaining for everyone watching.
At the moment, we don’t yet know the full scope of the impact these new rule changes will have or even if they’ll stick around long-term.
But, for now, fans are liking what they see. Let us just hope it stays that way as players adjust and start finding new ways to manipulate the system.
