NBA Free Throw Mechanics Question

[ilyazhito]

In NBA (and G-League) games, you see the Slot official (Center official in amateur mechanics) administering the 1st of multiple free throws or an only free throw. This practice is not found at any other level of basketball. Where did it originate from, and why do NBA-affiliated officials do that? Is there any advantage to having the Slot administer the 1st free throw in a sequence, or is it just another attempt to be different from other leagues?

In the NBA Officials Manual (2018-19 edition), the Free Throw Attempts (Responsibilities) section says: "Line up the players as soon as possible. The official in the lead position will administer all free throws. You must make certain that there are two offensive and two defensive players on the lane lines before passing the ball to the free throw shooter. A third defensive player on the lane line is optional." Does the manual say that because no one bothered to update that section, or is it because the NBA Operations Department actually wants officials to do that? I'm curious, because all officials from the G-League to NBA Finals officials have the Slot hand off the ball for the 1st free throw, with no apparent backlash for not following proper mechanics.

[bob jenkins]

FED used to do something like that, but I think maybe it was only for two person.

Gets more officials involved in the communication adn to be sure all is set on the FT lane before administering.

[ilyazhito]

That's an interesting idea. If that was the case, then the Slot would also hand the ball off for the 2nd and for other free throws that would go live, or this would be adopted by levels other than the NBA. Right now, this is is a standard, albeit officially unapproved, practice in the NBA and G-League.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

That's an interesting idea. If that was the case, then the Slot would also hand the ball off for the 2nd and for other free throws that would go live, or this would be adopted by levels other than the NBA. Right now, this is is a standard, albeit officially unapproved, practice in the NBA and G-League.

You only need the communication on the first so all know (or confirm) that it's 1, or 2, or 3, or 1-for2, etc.

No one gets confused on the subsequent, and once players are in the required spaces, someone continues to fill that spot.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

FED used to do something like that, but I think maybe it was only for two person.

Gets more officials involved in the communication adn to be sure all is set on the FT lane before administering.

Used to be in 3-Person too. The Center used to administer the first of multiple FTs. It was that way for the first few years of my career, then they made the lead administer everything.

Peace

[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Used to be in 3-Person too. The Center used to administer the first of multiple FTs. It was that way for the first few years of my career, then they made the lead administer everything.

Peace

So the NBA mechanic on free throws is a holdover from how 3-person mechanics used to be? Perhaps NBA just borrowed free throw mechanics from the old high school and college 3-person mechanics, since they didn't have their own 3-person mechanics until the 1988-89 season, aside from a 1-season experiment in 1978-79.

In that case, it might make sense why thr language in the manual is as it is. The manual seems to reflect more modern officiating practices. However, one of the more recent supervisors must have changed the free throw practices back, without editing the mechanics manual to reflect the new (old) changes.

Ed Rush said that the NBA "wanted the Slot to control the lane". Was that also the reasoning under old HS and college 3-person mechanics to having the Center administer the 1st free throw?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

So the NBA mechanic on free throws is a holdover from how 3-person mechanics used to be? Perhaps NBA just borrowed free throw mechanics from the old high school and college 3-person mechanics, since they didn't have their own 3-person mechanics until the 1988-89 season, aside from a 1-season experiment in 1978-79.

I do not remember exactly what the NBA was doing at that time. I know when I stared in 96, we were doing the mechanic with the C administering the first of multiple FTs. I do also remember that this must did not change until later in the early 2000s as I remember a friend of mine working the McDonald's All-American Game and he would talk about this mechanic as he would get in the camera view when a player was about to take a free throw attempt. I am pretty sure the mechanics were the same for both levels of college as well. What year that change took place, I cannot tell you off the bat of my head. But probably somewhere between 2000 and 2004.

As Raymond said, we did not think about it that much. When the change was made we changed. I thought it was a good change at the time but it took some getting used to for the first few games, after that it was like riding a bike.

Peace

[Raymond]

From what I understand it was implemented as a time-saving mechanic.

And obviously NBA officials didn't unilaterally just start doing it on their own.

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[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Raymond

From what I understand it was implemented as a time-saving mechanic.

How does it save time?

And obviously NBA officials didn't unilaterally just start doing it on their own.

Agreed.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

How does it save time?

...

It's something I read or heard directly from an NBA official.



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[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Raymond

It's something I read or heard directly from an NBA official.



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I am not questioning you. I am just curious as to how ti saves time. If it does, I'd be in favor of implementing it at all levels.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I am not questioning you. I am just curious as to how ti saves time. If it does, I'd be in favor of implementing it at all levels.

Kind of fuzzy on the conversation/details because I really didn't care, but I believe it's intended to get the players lined up quicker.

I want to say it was part of a package of changes that were made to speed up the game.

I work a Pro-Am every summer that uses NBA rules, and we are expected to know the rules and mechanics no matter what level we work normally.

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[Raymond]

I really don't think anybody here is putting that much thought into it. We all do whatever the mechanic is for the level we're working.

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[justacoach]

As to speeding up the game. G-League has an experimental rule this season to only shoot 1 FT regardless. Slot administers.

In final 2 minutes it reverts to normal number of shots where slot administers first and trail handles any remaining.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by justacoach

As to speeding up the game. G-League has an experimental rule this season to only shoot 1 FT regardless. Slot administers.

In final 2 minutes it reverts to normal number of shots where slot administers first and trail handles any remaining.

Why would the trail handle the remaining? Wouldn't it be the lead? That would make more sense. (I don't watch any G-league, so I wouldn't actually know what they're doing)