NBA announces changes to video replay process
The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved modifications to the instant-replay process that includes the final determination of some calls being made by a referee in the Replay Center, the league announced Wednesday.
The modifications will being this season.
In addition to three referees working each game on site, current referees will be staffed at the Replay Center. All replay reviews will continue to be triggered by the referees on the court. Once triggered, the final determination will be made by the Replay Center official. The Replay Center could be staffed by as many as four officials, depending on the schedule.
Video replays that will be decided by the Replay Center official are:
* 2-Point/3-Point field goal (made shot or foul)
* Made Basket – end of period
* Out-of-bounds
* Shot clock violation (on made field goal)
* Goaltending/Basket-Interference
* Clock malfunction (non-foul or non-violation involved)
* 24-Second shot clock reset
* Number of players on the court
Video replays that will continue to be decided by the on-court officials are:
* Flagrant foul
* Clear-path-to-the-basket foul
* Off-Ball foul
* Player altercation
* Foul – End of period
* Shot clock violation (involving foul call)
* Correct free-throw shooter
* Clock malfunction (foul or violation involved)
* Restricted Area
“Many instances in our 15 instant-replay triggers are very straightforward and do not need the involvement of the oncourt game officials to accurately determine the result,” said Kiki VanDeWeghe, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations, said in a statement. “Flow of game is crucial to basketball so a quicker result will help our players and coaches return to action faster.”
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
