The NBA has announced a new experiment for this year’s Summer League games, introducing the ‘one free throw rule.’ This innovative rule will be applied during events this month in Salt Lake City, Northern California, and Las Vegas. The G League has been utilizing this rule since the 2019-20 season to help speed up the pace of play.

Understanding the New Rule

Typically, when a player is fouled, they are awarded one, two, or three free throws, depending on the situation. Under the new rule, any such foul will result in a single free-throw attempt. This attempt will count for the same number of points as the free throws it replaces. However, this rule will not apply in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or during overtime, where traditional free-throw rules will still be in effect.

Historical Context of Rule Testing

The NBA Summer League has often served as a testing ground for potential rule changes. Previous rules tested in the league include the coach’s challenge, the reset of the 24-second shot clock to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound, and the one-shot penalty for a transition take foul. These experiments can influence future rule changes in regular NBA games.

Other G League Innovations

In addition to the ‘one free throw rule,’ the G League also plays quarters of 10 minutes, a format NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly supported. The NBA has experimented with this format in the past, including during preseason and exhibition games leading into the 2020 ‘bubble’ season.

The Summer League starts on July 9, providing an opportunity to assess the impact of the one free throw rule. How it will influence the game play and strategy remains to be seen, alongside its potential adoption in regular NBA seasons.