FIBA Tightens Shooting-Foul Rules to Stop the "Basketball-Killing" Move

FIBA will introduce a rule clarification for the 2026/2027 season that is meant to stop a tactic many have called a move that “ruins basketball.” The change will take effect in FIBA competitions and domestic leagues, but not yet in the EuroLeague or EuroCup.

The move in question involves players who are already beyond midcourt and intentionally begin a shooting motion after a defender commits or is about to commit a foul, in order to draw three free throws. Under the new clarification, a player will not be entitled to free throws for a three-point shot if the attempt begins from the half of the court he is defending, except when the 24-second clock or the end-of-quarter clock is about to expire.

FIBA said a player will only be considered to be in a shooting action if he is on the offensive half of the court, and he will not be regarded as shooting if he is not facing the basket when he starts the motion. The federation also specified that a “shooting motion” begins only once the player has already started lifting his shoulders and the ball toward the basket.

The update comes as the 2025/2026 season has ended in Israel’s Premier League and many European competitions have already been decided. The clarification is aimed at preventing a repeated tactic that has drawn widespread criticism for rewarding players who manufacture shooting fouls from far from the basket.