New NBA Rule Testing Announced, Full Details on Change to Free Throws at 2026 Summer League

The NBA is taking a step toward implementing a dramatic change for free throws.

The league announced Thursday that Summer League games will utilize the one free-throw rule. Aside from the last two minutes of regulation and any overtime period, players will attempt one shot from the charity stripe that counts for how many free throws they were awarded.

The NBA also announced it will trial a "connected basketball" that features an embedded sensor:

The NBA first introduced this in the G League ahead of the 2019-20 season.

While not a direct parallel, MLB did something similar when it eliminated the need for a pitcher to throw an intentional walk. Instead, a manager signals for the intentional walk, and the batter is awarded first base.

Cutting down on the number of free throws shortens the breaks in between play, and it comes at a time when players are savvier than ever in getting to the charity stripe.

Ask almost any fan and they'd probably say they want fewer, not more, free throws.

There will be critics of the proposed rule, though. They'll argue players should have to earn every point at the line, and this may incentivize a different sort of foul-baiting tactic.

However, former ESPN writer Kevin Pelton looked into data from the 2018-19 season and found players shot marginally better on their second free-throw attempt than their first.

Sure, making one free throw could mean scoring three points. Missing one free throw would also mean getting nothing instead of possibly salvaging a point or two under the traditional rule.

The trial period will give everyone an idea how this looks in practice during an NBA game. The fact it's still around in the G League points to how it appears to be achieving its goal without providing a big disruption.