NBA tests one-free-throw rule and sensor ball in league

The NBA will test two significant experimental rules during its summer league games this month, introducing a one-free-throw rule and a connected basketball equipped with an embedded sensor. The changes, announced Thursday, will be implemented across the California Classic, Salt Lake City Summer League, and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Under the new one-free-throw rule, any foul that would normally result in one, two, or three free throws will instead be resolved with a single free throw attempt. That single shot will be worth the total number of points the player would have been eligible to score under the traditional system. Standard free throw rules will remain in effect for the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and throughout any overtime period. The NBA G League has used this rule since the 2019-20 season to improve game flow and speed up play.

The league will also debut a connected basketball with an embedded sensor designed to detect contact. The NBA stated the sensor will collect data to support future officiating technology, including potential applications for determining last-touch out-of-bounds calls. Officials emphasized that the sensor is not...