Time-out, 4 return, when can 5th return?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Illini_Ref

I know what the rule is. However, it also doesn't say that FIVE players have to return to the floor.

Becasue if it did, someone like you would point out that the rule couldn't be followed if the team didn't have five players. Lah me.

Each rule is written assuming "nothing else" happened. And, since another rule requires 5 players, the "nothing else" in this case is 5 players.

Sometimes, you just need to referee.