What happens when the ball gets stuck in the rim? Decoding NBA official rules

In basketball games, there are many situations where the game has to be stopped due to unforeseen circumstances. While not common, a stuck ball does occur. The league will have its own procedures for handling such situations. This article from basketscores.com will answer the question: What happens when the ball gets stuck in the rim?

What happens when the ball gets stuck in the rim?

The situation where the ball gets stuck between the rim and the backboard (often called a “lodged” ball) is handled according to the rules of each league. According to NBA and FIBA rules, when a ball gets stuck, the referee will declare it a dead ball situation.

In FIBA and collegiate basketball (NCAA), referees use the alternating possession rule to determine which team has possession of the sideline. At the NBA level, the two opposing players involved in the situation will take a jump ball from the nearest circle.

However, if the ball is stuck during a free throw, the rules are slightly different. If it’s the last or only free throw and the ball is stuck on the rim, it’s considered a missed shot. Possession will be decided by jump ball or alternating possession. If there are still subsequent free throws, the ball is simply forfeited and the player continues with the next attempt.

An important note: If the ball goes through the hoop but gets caught in the net (not the rim) and doesn’t fall, this situation is generally not considered a stuck ball in the technical sense. However, the referee will still stop the game to retrieve the ball and return possession to the team that just scored or according to the ball-winning rules.

Some famous ball-stuck moments in basketball:

1. Boban Marjanović

One of the most famous ball-stuck moments wasn’t due to a shot. In a 2022 game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets, the ball got stuck in a very high position. After other players tried to retrieve it with brooms and sticks but failed, Boban Marjanović, at 2.24m tall, simply stood on tiptoe and used his bare hands to gently retrieve the ball. The entire stadium rose to their feet and applauded.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In a 2023 game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Toronto Raptors, star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a shot that went straight into the gap between the rim and the backboard. Interestingly, the ball was so tightly stuck that the referee had to call in stadium staff to use a long stick to push it out. This incident caused a few minutes of interruption to the game, and there was much discussion about the tension of the rim that day.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

The incident occurred during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers in 2021. Giannis stepped up to the free throw line with his usual high concentration. He performed his rather lengthy free throw routine, dribbling the ball a few times before shooting. Instead of going in or bouncing out, the ball flew in a straight trajectory into the gap between the rim and the backboard. The referee ruled it a missed shot, and Giannis received the ball back from the referee to take a second attempt.

Facts about ball-stuck situations in basketball

1. Rule: Shooters are not allowed to retrieve the ball themselves

This is an extremely important technical detail. If a player shoots and the ball gets stuck, that player must not jump up and touch the ball before the referee blows the whistle. In the NBA/FIBA, this action can be called a basket interference violation. Once the ball is stuck, it is considered to have stopped within the cylindrical area of the basket. It is against the rules for a player to intentionally try to get the ball into the basket or retrieve it to shoot again.

2. Rule: “Ball stuck on top of the backboard”

Few people know that the ball doesn’t only get stuck on the rim. If the ball bounces up and comes to rest on the top edge of the backboard or gets caught on the backboard’s support equipment, this situation is also treated as an out-of-bounds play, and possession of the ball goes to the opposing team of the last player to touch it. Unlike getting stuck on the rim, which usually involves a jump ball or alternating possession, getting stuck on top of the backboard often results in a simple throw-in.

3. Anti-ball-stuck technology

Modern basketball hoop manufacturers like Spalding and Schelde Sports have designed padding or minimized the gap between the support and the backboard to reduce this problem. In major leagues today, ball jams are usually caused by getting stuck between the rim and the backboard rather than mechanical gaps as before.

4. Strange ball-removing “tools”

NBA courts always have a long pole with a soft rubber tip under the scorer’s table. However, in some games, staff use the pole to push the ball but break the pole or even get it stuck in the hoop. In this case, they usually have to lower the hoop if it’s a hydraulic, adjustable type to retrieve the ball.

5. The odds of a ball getting stuck

According to basketball data analysts, the odds of a shot getting stuck between the rim and the backboard are approximately 1 in 5,000 at the professional level. This makes it one of the rarest events on the court, on par with a player making a basket from their own half.

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