With EuroBasket 2022 just around the corner, many international fans will flock to view the highest level of European basketball with many NBA stars on the teams' rosters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
| Team: | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Position: | PF |
| Age: | 28 |
| Height: | 211 cm |
| Weight: | 98 kg |
| Birth place: | Athens, Greece |
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However, with the change of the teams comes a change in the rules that are being upheld in the tournament, as FIBA basketball rules have 9 distinct differences compared to the NBA rulebook.
Whether you are preparing as seriously as Zach LaVine did before the Tokyo Olympics last year or just casually waiting for the best European basketball can offer to just come to you, let's quickly go through the differences between the rule sets and how they impact the game.
Court size
The size of an NBA court is94 feet long by 50 feet wide (28.65 meters by 15.24 meters). Meanwhile, the size of a FIBA court is 91.86 feet by 49.21 feet (28 meters by 15 meters). Evidently, the FIBA court is smaller than in the NBA, allowing slightly less movement and spacing in and by itself without considering any other differences.
Three-point range
Along with the larger court, the NBA three-point line is further from the basket, being 7.24-meter away. The distance becomes shorter if you shoot from the corner as it's only 6.7-meters away from the basket in such an instance.
According to FIBA, the three-point line has the same distance from every single angle and is measured at 6.75-meters.
Game duration
Every quarter in the NBA lasts 12 minutes, while each one of FIBA's competitions is 10 minutes long. Overtimes last 5 minutes in both systems of basketball.
Timeouts
In the NBA, each team has 7 timeouts during regulation. Each squad is limited to no more than 4 timeouts in the 4th quarter and two timeouts per team after the three-minute mark of the 4th quarter.
Luka Doncic
| MIN: | 36.76 |
| PTS: | 39 (59.6%) |
| REB: | 12 |
| As: | 9.67 |
| ST: | 0.67 |
| BL: | 0.33 |
| TO: | 3.33 |
| GM: | 3 |
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In overtime, each team is allowed two timeouts. Also, coaches are not the only ones who can call timeouts in the NBA, as it can also be done by players who currently have possession of the ball.
In FIBA basketball, the timeout rules are a bit more straightforward. Each team can use two timeouts in the first half and three timeouts during the second half. Each team is limited to two timeouts with 2:00 or less remaining in the 4th quarter.
Each team is given only one timeout per overtime, and the timeouts do not add up in case there is more than one overtime being played. Also, only the head coach can call for a timeout in FIBA basketball.
Fouls and their types
The personal foul limit in the NBA is set at six, while FIBA grants only five personal fouls. There are technical fouls in both rulesets. However, technical fouls are not considered personal fouls in the NBA, while they do count towards the team foul limit in FIBA.
Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls do not exist in FIBA. Instead, unsportsmanlike fouls are written in the rulebook. In most cases, they are similar to Flagrant 1 fouls and are charged for excessive contact.
However, they are also called in clear-path situations and instances where a defensive player does not go for the ball while attempting a defensive move. For example, wraparound fouls that are considered personal fouls in the NBA are regarded as unsportsmanlike fouls in FIBA.
It's worth noting that from the 2022-23 season, NBA will apply the rule in the same way as FIBA.
There are disqualifying fouls in FIBA that work similarly to Flagrant 2 fouls in the NBA. If a player is called for two technical fouls, two unsportsmanlike fouls, or one technical and one unsportsmanlike foul, the player is thrown out of the game.
The violation awards two free throws and possession to the opponent team as it is with flagrant fouls in the NBA.
Gambling and Betting Rules NBA vs. FIBA
Both the NBA and FIBA enforce strict anti-gambling rules to maintain the sport's integrity, with violators facing potential fines, suspensions, or bans.
While NBA participants are prohibited from betting on games or engaging in relationships that threaten game integrity, FIBA follows a similar stance, working closely with betting agencies to monitor suspicious betting activity and educating its members about the perils of gambling and match-fixing.
Of course, there are and will be violators of such rules in both leagues. Typically, problem gamblers try to circumvent these restrictions on sports betting sites by placing bets on foreign bookies or resources with more lenient licenses (like Curacao).
They often look for resources that directly state that they do not cooperate with government agencies such as the British Gamstop or the Australian Betstop, which are authorized to operate with the personal data of bettors.
In any case, this remains on the conscience of the players, and if they are caught violating the rules, penalties will be applied in full.
Goaltending and interference
In both rulebooks, goaltending is called when a player blocks the opponent's shot after it has hit the backboard. However, the players cannot touch the ball while it is above the ring and within the imaginary cylinder in the NBA.
In FIBA, players are allowed to touch the ball after it hits the rim even if the ball is in a downwards motion toward to goal and is within the cylinder of the ring. Players can also tip the ball even if it's still in the cylinder area.
Jumpball situations
The game begins with a jump ball both in FIBA and in the NBA. However, FIBA rules state that if there is a jump ball situation during the game, the players will not actually jump for the ball to gain possession.
Instead, the possession will be awarded to the team by the alternating possession rule. If a team starts the game with the ball, the opponent squad will have possession of the next jump ball. If no such situation occurs during the quarter, the said team will start the next quarter, and the alternating possession arrow changes sides.
Alternating possession can be lost if the throw-in player commits a violation during an inbounds situation.
Play reviews
There is no coach's challenge in FIBA competitions. While fouls can be reviewed if they were personal, unsportsmanlike, or disqualifying, they cannot be canceled. Also, FIBA referees tend to take less time reviewing the plays compared to the NBA.
Only a certain set of decisions can be reviewed during the entirety of the match, while most of the review capabilities, although still limited, are being opened up during the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter.
Defensive three-second violation
In the NBA, there are both defensive and offensive three-second rules, while there is only an offensive three-second violation in FIBA, meaning players can stay as long in the paint as they want without any repercussions.
Honorable mention: traveling violation
While the difference in calling the traveling violation has been one of the main differences throughout the last decades, several years ago, FIBA decided to bring its game closer to the NBA in that aspect.
The NBA has a so-called gather step when the player gains control of the basketball. It determines when and how the player can set its feet afterward. FIBA, meanwhile, has a so-called zero step.
After catching the ball, the foot that first touches the ground becomes the pivot from which all other actions can proceed. The player can then start dribbling the ball or take a two-step to finish the shot, hence, creating a three-step move together with a zero step.
Although the traveling rule took a leap closer to the NBA standard, FIBA referees are still way stricter in calling the violation compared to their colleagues on the other side of the pond.
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