On September 11, Beijing time, the NBA officially announced that the Board of Directors has approved the expansion of the scope of the throw-in replay in the coach's challenge, that is, if there is a foul missed in the replay, it will be made up. This change will be implemented from the 2024-25 season.
Under the new rules, if a coach's challenge triggers an instant replay of a throw-in, the on-field referee and replay centre will be able to look at the video to determine whether a foul should be awarded that is close to an out-of-bounds violation. In determining whether a previously unpunished foul is similar to an out-of-bounds offence, the following factors will be considered:
1. The player involved in the unpunished foul is not the same as the player involved in the out-of-bounds review.
2. The distance between an unpunished foul and an out-of-bounds ball under review.
3. The time interval between an unpunished foul and an out-of-bounds ball under review.
When explaining the new rules, NBA officials also used a key round between Irving and McDaniels in the Western Conference Finals as an example.
In a challenge to decide the ownership of a throw-in in that game, Irving fouled McDaniels, but the referee and the replay center did not have the authority to change it to a foul, and could only decide that the ball was finally touched by McDaniels, ruling that the Mavericks' throw-in challenge was successful, and awarding the ball to the Mavericks. Under the new rules, the Mavericks' challenge will fail, Irving will be given a personal foul, the Timberwolves will get the ball, and if the Mavericks' foul count is full, McDaniels will go to the free throw line.
The NBA's Competition Committee, which is comprised of players, representatives of the United States National Basketball Players Association, coaches, boards, team and league basketball executives, and referees, unanimously recommended this rule change to the Board.
After the official announcement of this change, it received the support of many fans, who believe that such a change makes the coaching challenge fairer and less rigid. What do you think? Feel free to leave a message to express your opinions.