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Below I discuss five little-known NBA rules.

Confusingly, the first four are different in the NBA and FIBA (and hence probably also in most other leagues around the world).

These NBA/FIBA rule differences probably explain why there is so much confusion and arguments over these rules, especially the first one.

Some of the sources I have used include:

If you believe I have made any mistake or think there’s any other commonly-confused rule worth adding, please leave a comment.

1. Can you rebound your own airball (i.e. your missed shot that didn’t touch the rim, the backboard, or any other player)?

NBA: No.     FIBA: Yes.

In both the NBA and FIBA, team control ends when there is a field goal attempt (FGA). And so, one might argue that since team control has ended, one “should” be able to rebound the ball, even if it is one’s own airball.

However, this is clearly and explicitly prohibited by NBA Rules 10.XIII.f:

A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.

Yup, you can’t even be the first to touch your own airball. (See also these Ask Donnie Q&A, which confirms this rule.)

And no, unlike what some have told me, it doesn’t matter if the ball was above the rim or the height of the rim. You still can’t be the first to touch it.

Here’s a clip of Javale McGee catching his own airball, then being slightly confused about being called for the violation.

I can find no such rule in FIBA Rules. And so, in FIBA, you can rebound your airball (so long as it was a legitimate FGA).

Personally, I prefer and would recommend using the NBA rule. Here are my reasons:

  • Under the FIBA rule, a player can get out of trouble by simply hurling the ball up unexpectedly, then rushing to retrieve it. This may not be too effective in real 5-on-5 games where someone else is likely to get it, but can be a pretty good tactic in smaller games (e.g. 2-on-2 or 1-on-1 where rebounding is allowed). I wouldn’t like this tactic being used.
  • The FIBA rule will sometimes require subjective judgment calls as to whether or not an airball is a legitimate FGA. Basketball rules already produce plenty of annoying subjective judgment calls; it’d be nice to have one less of them.
  • I don’t think one should be able to gain any advantage from one’s errors or incompetence.

You probably already know that the ball is still inbounds if it touches the four sides of the backboard, but is out-of-bounds if it touches the back of the backboard or any of the supports. (These rules hold in both the NBA and FIBA.)

What you may not know is this NBA rule:

2. Suppose the ball passes directly behind the back of the backboard without touching the back of the backboard or any of the supports. Has the ball gone out-of-bounds?

NBA: Yes.      FIBA: No.

NBA Rules 8.II.b:

Any ball that rebounds or passes directly behind the backboard, in any direction, or enters the cylinder from below is considered out-of-bounds.

NBA Casebook:

7. On an unsuccessful field goal attempt, the ball hits the basket ring and rebounds over and behind the face of the backboard. The ball returns to the floor and touches inbounds without having touched any of the backboard supports. Is the ball to remain in play?

No. A violation shall be called on the last team to touch the ball before it went directly behind the backboard. The ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in at the free throw line extended.

8. Player A1 has control of the ball near the endline and passes the ball behind the backboard (never touching the supports) to Player A2. Is this legal or illegal?

Illegal. Same reason as #7 above.

9. On an unsuccessful field goal attempt, the ball rebounds off the basket ring and rolls along the top edge of the backboard. Is the ball still in play?

Yes. All four sides of the backboard are considered inbounds.

I can find no such rule in FIBA Rules. So, I believe that in FIBA, so long as the ball doesn’t touch the back of the backboard or any of the supports, it is still inbounds.

3. Suppose you’re dribbling. You momentarily step out-of-bounds, but do not touch the ball while out-of-bounds. Nor does the ball go out-of-bounds. You immediately re-establish position inbounds. Can you then continue dribbling the ball?

NBA: No.     FIBA: Yes.

According to NBA Rules 10.II.b, you may not even be the first player to touch the ball:

A player in control of a dribble who steps on or outside a boundary line, even though not touching the ball while on or outside that boundary line, shall not be allowed to return inbounds and continue his dribble. He may not even be the first player to touch the ball after he has re-established a position inbounds.

This is a pretty-obscure rule. Indeed, in 2012, Manu Ginobili committed exactly this violation but was not called by the officials:

I can find no such rule in FIBA Rules. So, I infer that in FIBA, you’re allowed to continue dribbling (so long as the ball didn’t go out-of-bounds, you didn’t touch the ball while you were out-of-bounds, and you’ve re-established position inbounds before touching the ball again).

But again, this is a pretty obscure rule and perhaps there is some FIBA document out there explaining why this is prohibited, just like in the NBA. If you’re an expert on FIBA rules who knows better, please comment below.

4. While dribbling, you touch the ball twice before the ball touches the floor — once when your hand taps the ball as usual and again when the ball inadvertently touches some part of your body. Has your dribble ended?

NBA: Yes.

FIBA: No.

NBA Rules 4.II.a lists seven scenarios in which a dribble ends. Of interest here is scenario (5):

The dribble ends when the dribbler:

(1) Touches the ball simultaneously with both hands

(2) Permits the ball to come to rest while he is in control of it

(3) Tries for a field goal

(4) Throws a pass

(5) Touches the ball more than once while dribbling, before it touches the floor

(6) Loses control

(7) Allows the ball to become dead

After your dribble has ended, you may collect the ball and shoot or pass it. But you may no longer dribble it — doing so would be a double dribble violation.

In contrast, this is all FIBA Rules 24.1.2 has to say on when a dribble ends:

A dribble ends when the player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously or permits the ball to come to rest in one or both hands.

I cannot find anything in the FIBA Rules that sounds remotely like NBA Rules 4.II.a.5. I thus infer that in FIBA and unlike in the NBA, you can continue dribbling even if the ball inadvertently touches your body a second time. But again, I welcome any FIBA rules expert to let me know otherwise!

Our last little-known rule holds in both the NBA and FIBA:

5. You can only pivot on one “axis” or “contact” point.

Strangely, this rule is not explicitly stated in NBA Rules, but is given in the NBA Casebook:

435. Player A1 receives a pass and establishes his left foot as his pivot foot. What may he do with his pivot foot while on the floor?

Once a player establishes a pivot foot he may only pivot on that foot with one axis point. The part of the pivot foot that remains on the court when he first turns shall be considered his axis point. He may ‘rock’ back and forth from heel to toe as long as he does not create a new axis point.

That is, if for example you’ve just pivoted on the heel of your foot, then you can only pivot again on the heel of that foot — you cannot pivot on the tip of that foot. (Observe that absent this rule, one would theoretically be able to cover indefinite distances by pivoting.)

I observe though that this rule is only sometimes enforced in the NBA.

FIBA Rules 25.1.2:

A pivot is the legal movement in which a player who is holding a live ball on the playing court steps once or more than once in any direction with the same foot, while the other foot, called the pivot foot, is kept at its point of contact with the floor.