The NBA approves rule changes to Coach Challenges, and it flops

LAS VEGAS — The NBA’s Board of Governors approved two rule changes that will take effect next season — a second challenge to the coach if the first challenge is successful and a penalty in the game — at its annual meeting during the Las Vegas Summer League on Tuesday.

Both rule amendments were unanimously recommended to the Board of Governors by the league’s competition committee—a group made up of players, union representatives, coaches, referees, executives, and referees—to be implemented next season.

Coaches getting access to the second challenge is something teams – and coaches in particular – have been pushing for for years. Now, if a team gets a challenge right early in the game, they get a second chance later in the competition.

But while teams will still keep their first timeout that they have to use to invite for their initial challenge, they won’t get their timeout back for their second challenge – even if it is successful.

In the meantime, a new rule will be implemented to try to limit failures in games. Now, when the referee calls a flop, there will be an unsportsmanlike technical foul called on the team of players in violation, and the opposing team will get a free throw. The umpires will also not have to stop play to call the flop, as they can wait until the next stop in the live event, if necessary, to make the call.

Possession will not change, however, failed violations cannot be reviewed directly through the Coach Challenge. However, they may be added to a call while a different play is being reviewed.

The league’s pre-existing post-flip offense structure will remain in place, with the monetary penalty for flop changing to reflect technical fouls, with fines starting at $2,000 and increasing for each repeat offense.

However, misses called during games will only result in free throws for the other team.

The flop rule change will be used on a trial basis for one year.