NBA Ball in Play, Jump Ball and Out-of-Bounds Rules

Every NBA game begins with a jump ball, but there are many other ways the basketball can be put into play. Depending on the situation, action may resume with a throw-in, a free throw or another jump ball.

The distinction between a live ball and a dead ball is essential to understanding professional basketball. It determines when players may legally compete for possession, when the game clock begins or stops, when substitutions are permitted and how officials administer fouls and violations.

Out-of-bounds rules are equally important. They establish which team receives possession when the basketball crosses a boundary and determine where the ball must be inbounded.

The following sections modernize the historical NBAHoopsOnline rulebook material while retaining its original organizational structure. For authoritative language and special-case exceptions, consult the NBA's official rulebook.

1. Beginning the Game

An NBA game begins with a jump ball at the center circle. An official tosses the basketball between two opposing players, who attempt to legally tap it to a teammate.

2. Beginning Overtime

Each overtime period also begins with a jump ball at center court.

3. Beginning the Second, Third and Fourth Quarters

The team that does not gain possession following the opening jump ball receives the ball to begin the second and third quarters. The team that gains possession following the opening jump ball receives the ball to begin the fourth quarter.

These periods begin with a throw-in from the opponent's endline rather than another jump ball.

4. Resuming Play After a Dead Ball

Depending on the reason play was stopped, the game resumes through a throw-in, a free throw or a jump ball.

5. Location of Throw-Ins

Throw-in locations depend on the violation, foul or other stoppage. The NBA rulebook establishes specific locations for different situations, including sideline and baseline throw-ins and designated throw-in spots.

For example, ordinary traveling and double-dribble violations generally result in possession for the opposing team at the applicable sideline location. A ball that crosses the baseline ordinarily results in a baseline throw-in.

6. Timeouts and Resumption of Play

Following a timeout, the basketball is put into play at the location required by the applicable rule. Special advance-the-ball provisions may apply late in the fourth quarter or overtime.

The NBA no longer uses the historical distinction between regular and 20-second timeouts. Modern rules provide for team timeouts with specific timing and administration requirements.

Under NBA rules, the basketball becomes live in the following situations:

1. When an official tosses the ball for a jump ball.
2. When the ball is placed at the disposal of the player making a throw-in.
3. When the ball is placed at the disposal of a free throw shooter.

A live ball does not always mean the game clock is running. For example, the ball is live when the inbounding player receives it from the official, but the game clock ordinarily does not begin until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court.

This distinction matters when determining whether a foul, violation or other event occurred before or after the ball became live.

Center-circle jump balls are used to begin the game and overtime periods, as well as in certain special situations requiring a jump ball at center court.

Other circumstances may also result in a center-circle jump ball under the applicable NBA rule, including specified situations involving a loose ball, double violations or a ball that becomes lodged between the basket ring and backboard.

Not every jump ball involves the two tallest players. The players required to participate depend on the reason the jump ball was called.

When a particular pair of players is required, substitutions or disqualifications may affect who participates according to the NBA's jump-ball procedures.

1. Held Ball

A held ball occurs when two opposing players have a firm grip on the basketball and neither can gain possession without undue roughness.

Play is stopped and a jump ball is administered at the designated circle nearest the location of the held ball.

2. Simultaneous Out-of-Bounds Contact

When opposing players are judged to have simultaneously caused the basketball to go out of bounds, a jump ball may be required.

3. Uncertain Possession

A jump ball may also be administered when officials cannot determine which team last touched the ball before it went out of bounds, subject to applicable replay procedures.

4. Players Participating

In an ordinary held-ball situation, the two players involved participate in the jump ball. The NBA provides special procedures when injury, ejection or disqualification prevents a required participant from continuing.

NBA jump balls are governed by several positioning and participation requirements.

1. Each jumper must position himself within the designated half of the center or restraining circle.
2. The ball must be tapped after reaching its highest point.
3. Neither jumper may tap the ball before it reaches its highest point.
4. Neither jumper may leave the jumping circle before the ball is tapped.
5. A jumper may not catch the toss or the tapped ball until it has legally touched another player, the floor, the basket or the backboard.
6. A jumper may not tap the ball more than twice.
7. Non-jumpers must remain outside the restraining circle until the ball is tapped.
8. Players around the circle must comply with positioning restrictions, including rules governing adjacent positions.

Violations of jump-ball restrictions can result in possession being awarded to the opposing team.

If neither jumper legally taps the ball and it falls to the floor, the official administers another toss.

A dead ball is one that is temporarily not available for ordinary basketball play. The ball becomes dead in numerous situations, including:

1. A held ball.
2. The ball becoming lodged between the basket ring and backboard.
3. The expiration of a period, subject to applicable rules for a shot already in flight.
4. Certain free throw situations.
5. A personal foul that causes play to be stopped.
6. A traveling violation.
7. A double-dribble violation.
8. A three-second violation.
9. An eight-second backcourt violation.
10. A shot-clock violation.
11. A fighting foul.
12. An inadvertent whistle.
13. A successful field goal when the ball is to be put into play by a throw-in.

When a ball becomes dead, the officials determine how play will resume and whether free throws, possession or other penalties must be administered.

Historical correction: The older NBAHoopsOnline text referred to a 10-second backcourt violation. The modern NBA uses an eight-second requirement for advancing the basketball from the backcourt to the frontcourt.

The historical NBA rulebook also distinguished between a ball becoming live and becoming alive during active play.

Under that terminology, the ball became alive when:

1. It was legally tapped during a jump ball.
2. It was released by the thrower-in.
3. It was released by the free throw shooter.

This terminology is retained here for historical reference. Modern explanations generally focus on the official live-ball and dead-ball definitions, along with the separate conditions governing when the game clock begins.

The original NBAHoopsOnline page also covered the rules for players and basketballs crossing the court boundaries. These regulations determine when a ball is out of bounds, which team receives possession and how a legal throw-in must be completed.

A player is out of bounds when touching the floor or any object on or outside a boundary line.

When a player is airborne, his location is determined by the place where he last touched the playing floor.

For example, a player who jumps from inside the court remains an inbounds player while airborne, provided he has not touched an out-of-bounds surface or object.

This principle is important on saves near the sideline and baseline, especially when a player jumps to redirect the basketball back onto the court.

The basketball is considered out of bounds when it touches:

1. A player who is out of bounds.
2. The floor on or outside a boundary line.
3. Another person who is out of bounds.
4. An object on, above or outside the boundary.
5. Specified backboard supports or the back of the backboard.

Which Team Gets Possession?

The basketball is ordinarily awarded to the team opposite the player who last touched it before it went out of bounds.

If the ball touches a player standing on or outside a boundary line, that player is considered responsible for the ball going out of bounds.

Simultaneous Contact

If two opposing players simultaneously cause the basketball to go out of bounds, a jump ball may be administered.

Ball Behind the Backboard

The NBA has specific rules governing the ball passing behind or contacting the backboard and its supports. The back of the backboard and certain supports are out of bounds, while a ball passing behind the backboard is subject to the league's defined boundary rules.

Interference by Bench Personnel

Interference by a person on the bench can result in a violation or technical foul, depending on the circumstances. The officials administer possession and any penalty according to the applicable NBA rule.

1. Five-Second Throw-In Rule

A player making a throw-in must release the basketball within five seconds after it is placed at his disposal.

2. Legal Throw-In

The inbounding player must throw the ball directly onto the playing court or to a player who legally receives it. The ball may not be thrown in a manner that violates the boundary restrictions.

3. After a Successful Basket

Following a successful field goal or applicable final free throw, the team that did not score puts the ball into play from behind its endline.

In this situation, the inbounding player may generally move along the endline and pass to a teammate who is also behind the endline, subject to the five-second requirement.

4. Designated Throw-In Spots

For most other throw-ins, the inbounding player must remain at the designated location and comply with the applicable movement restrictions.

5. Ball Not Touched Inbounds

If the throw-in is not legally touched on the court, the officials determine the proper restart according to the circumstances, including whether the original inbounding team committed a violation.

6. Frontcourt and Backcourt Restrictions

Throw-ins are subject to the NBA's backcourt rules, including restrictions that apply after a team has established frontcourt possession.

The older rulebook text treated certain frontcourt and midcourt throw-ins differently from the modern rules. Current NBA provisions include special procedures for designated throw-in locations and late-game advances.

7. Throw-In Violations

Violations can include failing to release the ball within five seconds, illegally leaving the designated throw-in area or otherwise failing to make a legal throw-in.

A throw-in violation ordinarily results in possession being awarded to the opposing team at the appropriate location.

NBA rules governing possession and the resumption of play have evolved considerably since the league's earliest seasons.

One of the most significant changes was the introduction of the 24-second shot clock in 1954. Although it primarily affected offensive timing, it also changed the way officials handled possession and violations.

Later changes included adjustments to the backcourt count, the introduction of expanded instant replay procedures and revisions to timeout rules.

The NBA eliminated its former 20-second timeout category as part of a broader timeout restructuring for the 2017-18 season.

Understanding these changes is particularly important when researching historical NBA games. Procedures that were legal during one era may differ from the rules currently used by officials.

How does an NBA game begin?

Every NBA game begins with a jump ball at center court.

Does every NBA quarter begin with a jump ball?

No. The second, third and fourth quarters begin with throw-ins. Overtime periods begin with jump balls.

How long does a player have to inbound the ball?

An NBA player generally has five seconds to release a throw-in.

What happens when two players hold the ball?

If neither player can gain possession without undue roughness, officials call a held ball and administer a jump ball.

Can a player save the basketball while jumping out of bounds?

Yes. A player who jumps from inbounds may legally redirect the basketball before touching an out-of-bounds surface, provided no other rule is violated.

What is the NBA backcourt count?

NBA teams generally have eight seconds to advance the basketball from the backcourt into the frontcourt.

For the complete official language governing live balls, dead balls, jump balls and throw-ins, consult the NBA's official rulebook.

NBA Official Rulebook

NBA Video Rulebook

This page is an educational summary and historical reference. The NBA's official rulebook controls where a special situation or exception is not covered here.

NBA Rules and Regulations — Return to the complete NBA rules archive.

NBA 24-Second Shot Clock Rules — Learn how possessions are timed and when the shot clock resets.

NBA Fouls and Penalties — Historical regulations governing personal and technical fouls.

NBA Violations and Penalties — Additional basketball violations and penalties.

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