2024-25 NBA G League Experimental Playing Rules Overview
The NBA G League is a pivotal testing ground for the NBA. Below you will find on-court basketball rules unique to the G League this season. These are in addition to the standard NBA game rules and guidelines.
End of Period “Heaves”: Certain unsuccessful end-of-period “heaves” will be adjusted from an individual player’s missed field goal attempt to a team field goal attempt when the following criteria are met: 1) the missed field goal attempt takes place within the final three seconds of the first three periods of the game, 2) the missed field goal attempt must take place from beyond the outer edge of the center circle extended (i.e., approximately 36 feet from the basket) as shown here, 3) the play must originate in the backcourt.
If a field goal attempt meets the above criteria, and the shot is made, then the player will be credited with a standard made field goal attempt. The team field goal attempts will not be tied to the individual player on the final box score. If a field goal attempt meets the above criteria, but the shot is blocked by a defender, the attempt will count as a team field goal attempt, and the defender will be credited with a blocked shot. Any associated rebounds after such blocked shot will still be credited to an individual player, as needed.
Expanded Coach’s Challenge: The only called fouls and violations that will not be subject to review via a Coach’s Challenge are the following: (i) technical fouls; (ii) unsportsmanlike acts; and (iii) flagrant fouls. (Click here for the list of challengeable events.)
Each team will have two Challenges per game, regardless of the outcome of any particular Challenge. The challenging team will be charged with the timeout used to initiate a Challenges regardless of the outcome of the Challenge. Each team will continue to have seven timeouts during regulation play, with the rules on how to initiate a Challenge remaining the same. There will be one list of reviewable matters that applies across all Coach’s Challenges. Note that with the exception of matters related to fouls, goaltending, and continuation, the same list of reviewable matters will also apply with respect to referee-initiated instant replay review.
Target Score Overtime: Games that advance to overtime will be determined by a Final Target Score of seven (7) points.
For example, if the teams are tied at 100-100, the Final Target Score would be 107. Overtime will be untimed, and games will end when a team makes a basket or free throw to reach or surpass the Final Target Score.
One Free-Throw Rule: One free throw worth one, two or three points will be awarded in the event of any foul that would typically result in one, two or three free throws being shot under standard NBA rules; will not apply during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or the entirety of any overtime period.
14-Second Reset on Advance: The shot clock will reset to 14 seconds or will remain the same, whichever is lower, anytime the ball is advanced to the frontcourt following a reset or a team timeout.
Reset Timeouts: Each team will be entitled to a “Reset Timeout” in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and final two minutes of any overtime period. “Reset Timeouts” do not allow teams to huddle, but otherwise mirror standard timeouts, allowing teams to advance the ball (when applicable) and make unlimited substitutions. If either team huddles or prevents the ball from immediately being put back into play, it will result in a delay of game being issued to the offending team.
Transition Take Fouls: A transition take foul occurs when a defender commits a take foul (a foul in which the defender does not make a play on the ball) against an offensive player who has the ball or has just released a pass; a foul is committed during a transition scoring opportunity; and a foul does not meet the criteria for a clear path foul. The fouled team may select any player in the game to shoot one free throw and retains the ball at the point of interruption. A player that is off the ball and is fouled in an effort to stop a transition scoring opportunity that is an obvious take foul will be considered a transition take foul.
Key difference from NBA rule: There is no transition take foul in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Replay Triggers: The G League has five replay triggers.
Flagrant Fouls
Two-point/three-point field goal attempts or fouls
Made basket at the end of a period
Foul at the end of a period
Any hostile act / altercation
Key difference from NBA rule: There are 16 total replay triggers for NBA games.