With the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season finished and the playoffs up and running, fans are very excited. Yet, there have been some changes to the rules of the game they love, and one, in particular, has sparked some debate. Let’s take a look.
What’s the ‘take foul’ and how has the NBA changed the rules that affect it?
As we mentioned before, the NBA has made a few changes to its rule book for the 2022-23 season, all of which took effect from the opening tipoff. Most notable among them is perhaps the alteration that pertains to what is referred to as the “transition take foul” or, as we commonly know it, the ‘take foul.
NBA:
As per official league statements, the Association will now impose a heavier penalty when the team on defense commits a transition take foul without making a legitimate play on the ball. To be clear, that can also include when a player gives up on the play by wrapping up or grabbing the offensive player. What’s more, is that it also applies to moments in which defenders are out of position and unable to make a play on the ball.
— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) October 21, 2022With the take foul now outlawed in the NBA, Russell Westbrook can be immortalized as the king of the take foul
The Utah Jazz guards, who were coached by take foul pioneer Quin Snyder, didn't even approach Russ's absurd frequency of take fouling last season pic.twitter.com/zqa5ygNKdA
In terms of what happens when the foul is called? The offensive team will now receive a single free throw, which any player on the team can take. In addition, they will also retain possession of the ball. The only exceptions to this rule occur when the game is in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or during overtime.
What has the NBA had to say about its ‘take foul’ change?
Despite the obvious uproar that the rule change has caused, Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s senior vice president overseeing referees and training, believes it’s not only a positive change but one that accentuates one of the league’s better attributes. “Some of our best play at the NBA is defensive basketball. We don’t want to discourage that; in fact, we think this rule will encourage that because now we’re asking you to make a legitimate play on the ball,” he said. “From that standpoint, we think more exciting basketball is on the horizon and these transition scoring opportunities - both defensively and offensively - can be highlight plays. We’ve lost some of that and we think this rule is going to inject that exciting play back into our game.”
— Myguyknowsaguy (@myguyknowsaguy) October 19, 2022My #1 takeaway after Celtics vs 76ers NBA season opener:
The Boston outscored Philly 24-2 in transition. The new “take foul” rules will benefit the younger, more athletic teams as they emphasize efficient transition offense.
Better basketball pending. pic.twitter.com/JHHFil8fSC
Indeed, McCutchen continued as he explained that it’s simply a matter of time before players and coaches alike become accustomed to the change. “Our players and our coaches, they’re good at their jobs,” McCutchen said. “They’re good at their jobs because they’re committed at their jobs. They absolutely will stop doing this if we’re consistent in our work, which I fully anticipate us being. They’ll then know how to coach it properly. And therein lies the glory of transition basketball being reinjected into our game.”
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown the first to commit a ‘take foul’ under new rules
Maxey steals the ball from Jaylen Brown then Brown commits the transition take foul. Harden and Embiid fight over who gets to take the first NBA take foul free throw but Harden wins and makes it. pic.twitter.com/7twXTV5BFN
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) October 19, 2022
With the new rules now in effect, the ‘honor’ of being the first player to be penalized under the new system fell to Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Facing the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown lost the ball to Philly’s Tyrese Maxey and then proceeded to grab him in an effort to prevent a fast break. In the video above, one can see a degree of confusion after the foul is called, but ultimately, the rules are the rules.
As a seasoned basketball analyst and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the NBA, let's delve into the intricacies of the recent rule changes that have stirred considerable debate among fans and players alike.
The focus of the NBA's rule modifications for the 2022-23 season centers around the "transition take foul," commonly known as the 'take foul.' This adjustment, effective from the opening tipoff of the season, specifically targets situations where the defensive team commits a transition take foul without making a legitimate play on the ball. Even instances where a player gives up on the play by wrapping up or grabbing the offensive player, or when defenders are out of position and unable to make a play on the ball, fall under this new rule.
One of the most significant changes is the imposition of a heavier penalty for such fouls. The official league statements indicate that the offensive team, when fouled in a transition situation, will now receive a single free throw, and any player on the team can take it. Furthermore, the offensive team will retain possession of the ball, except in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or during overtime.
This alteration has sparked various reactions across the NBA community. Critics argue that it eliminates a strategic defensive move, while proponents, including Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s senior vice president overseeing referees and training, believe it enhances the game. McCutchen emphasized that the rule change encourages legitimate plays on the ball and aims to inject more excitement into both defensive and offensive transition opportunities.
Despite the initial uproar, McCutchen remains optimistic, asserting that players and coaches will adapt to the change over time. He believes that consistency in officiating and coaching will lead to a better understanding of the new dynamics, ultimately revitalizing transition basketball in the league.
In practice, we've already seen instances of players adapting to the new rules, with Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics becoming the first player to be penalized under the revised system. Brown committed a transition take foul in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, providing a tangible example of how the rule operates.
In summary, the NBA's adjustment to the 'take foul' rule reflects a conscious effort to reshape the dynamics of transition plays, with the league's leadership expressing confidence that the changes will contribute to more exciting and legitimate basketball on both ends of the court.
