FIBA Substitutions

[NICK]

You cannot substitute a player out if you have no substitute to go into the game. If the coach only has 5 players on court and wants to have a player come off and have a rest, he can only do so with the referee's OK and during a dead ball period as leaving the court without permission is a Technical infringement. He/she will still need the referee's permission to go back into the game during a dead ball period. That is how I would handle it.

[Karin]

As I understand it, if the player is fit to play, he must remain on the court. I think the word substitution says it all. If there is no player to come into the game as a substitute, how can you effect a substitution?The team consists of five players on court not four and a bench sitter. An injury to one of the five players would be the only way to alter this.Article 4.2.2 is as close as it gets.