NEW YORK, NY — The NBA will test two experimental rules during its summer leagues this month, introducing a one-free-throw rule and a connected basketball with an embedded sensor.
The changes will be used during the California Classic, Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas.
Under the one free throw rule, players will attempt a single free throw for fouls that would normally result in one, two or three free throws. The lone attempt will be worth the total number of points the player would have received under standard NBA rules. Traditional free throw rules will remain in effect during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and throughout overtime.
The NBA G League has used the one free throw rule since the 2019-20 season in an effort to improve game flow.
The league will also test a connected basketball equipped with an embedded sensor designed to detect contact with the ball. According to the NBA, the sensor will collect data to support future officiating technology, including potential use on last-touch out-of-bounds calls.
The league said the embedded sensor does not affect the basketball's weight, feel or playability.
Both experimental features were discussed during a recent NBA Competition Committee meeting.
The first summer league event, the California Classic, begins Friday.
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