NBA Foul Rules: Fouling Out, Team Fouls and the Bonus Explained

A foul in basketball is illegal contact with an opponent, or unsporting behaviour. Fouls have two effects: they can give the other team free throws, and a player who collects too many must leave the game.

How many fouls before fouling out?

A player who fouls out cannot return, but the team can replace them, unlike a red card in football.

Team fouls and the bonus

Every personal foul also counts as a team foul. In the NBA, from a team's fifth team foul in a quarter, the opponents are in the bonus: every defensive foul gives them two free throws, even if the player fouled was not shooting. In the last two minutes of a quarter, a team that has not yet reached the bonus goes into it with its second team foul in those two minutes.

FIBA uses the same threshold: free throws from the fifth team foul in each quarter.

Shooting fouls

• Fouled on a two-point shot that misses: two free throws.
• Fouled on a three-point shot that misses: three free throws.
• Fouled while scoring: the basket counts plus one free throw, the “and-one”.

Offensive fouls

An offensive foul, such as charging into a set defender, gives the ball to the other team. In the NBA it does not count towards the team-foul total for the bonus.

Technical fouls

A technical foul is for unsporting behaviour, such as arguing with referees or hanging on the rim. The other team gets one free throw. Two technical fouls in a game mean an automatic ejection.

Flagrant fouls

• Flagrant 1: unnecessary contact. Two free throws and possession.
• Flagrant 2: unnecessary and excessive contact. Two free throws, possession and ejection.

The take foul

Since 2022-23, the NBA punishes a deliberate “take foul” to stop a fast break with one free throw plus possession, so teams can no longer stop easy breaks cheaply.

For more rules, read basketball violations explained, the cylinder rule and NBA overtime rules.