NBA's latest officiating emphasis could lead to even more fouls on 3-point shots during 2025-26 season
The league is cracking down on 'high five' contests on shooters, but at what cost?
new.cbssports.comHere are the latest notable developments in basketball fouls and officiating trends:
- NBA officiating emphasis on contact near shooters (the “high five” closeouts) may increase foul calls on 3-point attempts and related follow-through contact in the 2025-26 season. This emphasis could lead to more free throws as referees tighten interpretations around hand/arm contact after the ball release.[1]
- Some high-profile cases and videos suggest ongoing scrutiny of fouls and technicals in both the NBA and WNBA, with league reviews sometimes upgrading calls to flagrant or reforming officiating after game reviews. Examples include flagged reviews and calls related to player safety and contact on drives or aerial plays.[3][5]
- The trend toward stricter enforcement of certain fouls (e.g., flagrant 1s for dangerous contact, or closer calls on defender contact near jump shooters) has been reflected in suspensions and fines when officials or players are found to have misapplied rules in high-stakes games.[2][5]
- There is ongoing discussion in media about whether technical fouls should be issued for flopping or exaggerated contact, which could influence how players adapt their on-court behavior to avoid penalties and how officials interpret contact in tightly contested plays.[9]
Illustration: A typical season trend shows officials tightening calls on contact near jump shooters and reviewing ambiguous plays postgame, which can lead to more fouls and free throws in some games.
If you’d like, I can pull the most current official rule clarifications or summarize recent game-night officiating trends for a specific league (NBA or WNBA) or a particular team. I can also set up a quick briefing with the latest cited sources for you.