Olympic basketball operates under rules and regulations set by FIBA, but how do they differ from those in the NBA?
The United States Men’s National Team overcame a cold start to defeat Canada 86-72 in the opening game of the USAP Showcase in Las Vegas last week. Many early crashes can be attributed to the process of building team chemistry and adjusting to differences in the international game.
Olympic basketball operates under the rules and regulations of FIBA, the governing body for international basketball. Below is a breakdown of the differences between NBA and Olympic (FIBA) rules:
Court size:
The size of the court in the international game is smaller (91′ 10” x 49’2.5) than in the NBA (94×50).
Playing time:
Four 10-minute quarters are played during Olympic play versus 12 minutes in the NBA.
Three point line:
The three-point line is shorter for FIBA competitions (6.75 m (6.60 m) than the NBA’s 7.24 m (6.70 m).
Deadline:
Teams are given seven timeouts in NBA action. During Olympic basketball tournaments, teams have two timeouts in the first half and three timeouts in the second half. Nations can only use two timeouts in the last two minutes of the 4th quarter.
mistakes:
Five fouls and you’re disqualified in Olympic sports, as opposed to six fouls in the NBA.
Technical faults:
- FIBA – A free throw and keeping the ball in the center
- NBA – One free throw per technical foul; Play resumes where interrupted; The fault is charged to the person in question (and an automatic penalty is assessed).
- FIBA: Two free throws awarded for each (non-shooting) foul after the fourth quarter (including player technical fouls). This does not include active fouls or fouls in team possession.
- NBA: Two free throws are awarded for each foul after the fourth team foul or the last two minutes of each quarter, whichever comes first. It does not include fatal errors and technical errors.
Security:
In the NBA, defenders cannot stay in the restricted area for more than three seconds unless a player is actively guarding an opponent. This is not the case in FIBA games.
Basket Interruption:
Once the ball hits the rim, any player can make a play on the ball (i.e. sweep or tap it), which is not allowed in the NBA.
Travel Violation:
After a player catches the ball, they can take a step before dribbling in the NBA. According to FIBA rules, unless the player pivots in place, they must put the ball on the ground before taking a step. Players can take steps and dribble at the same time.