Explaining new NBA in-season tournament, flop rule, rest rule, expanded coach’s challenge – Sacramento Bee

The NBA is implementing an in-season tournament and a few new rules for the 2023-24 season.

All 30 teams will participate in the in-season tournament culminating with a Final Four to be held Dec. 7-9 in Las Vegas. The new rules will include an expanded coach’s challenge, a flopping penalty and rest restrictions designed to preserve the fan experience by preventing teams from sitting multiple star players on the same night.

Here’s what fans need to know with the NBA season set to begin Tuesday and the Kings scheduled to play their season opener against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

In-season tournament

Each team will play four group stage games on Tuesdays and Fridays in November. Based on a random drawing, the Kings will compete in West Group C with the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

The Kings will open group play against the Thunder on Nov. 10 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. They will face the Spurs and No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio on Nov. 17 on ESPN. The Kings will then visit the Timberwolves on Nov. 14 before concluding group play at home against the Warriors on Nov. 28 on TNT.

Eight teams will advance from group play to the quarterfinals, which will also be played at home arenas. Four teams will compete in the Final Four beginning Dec. 7 in Las Vegas with the first-ever NBA Cup to presented to the tournament winner following the championship game Dec. 9.

All tournament games except for the final will be part of each team’s 82-game regular-season schedule with the exception of the championship game. Players on standard NBA contracts will receive $500,000 apiece for the winning team; $200,000 for the runner-up; $100,000 for teams that lose in the semifinals; and $50,000 for teams that lose in the quarterfinals.

Rest rule

The NBA’s new player participation policy is being implemented to limit the use of load management. NBA commissioner Adam Silver explained that players will not be expected to play through injuries, but the league wants healthy players to play.

The NBA now requires players to appear in a minimum of 65 games to qualify for most major annual honors and awards, including MVP and All-NBA selections. In addition, teams can rest no more than one star player from a game, with stars defined as anyone who has been an All-Star or All-NBA selection in any of the past three seasons.

Healthy star players must be available for nationally televised games and in-season tournament games. The policy includes exceptions for injuries and personal absences. The league will also make exceptions for preapproved absences – based on a player’s age, career workload or injury history – when a team plays games on back-to-back nights.

Expanded coach’s challenge

The NBA Board of Governors approved expanded use of the coach’s challenge this season. The new rule will award a team a second coach’s challenge if its first challenge is successful. A team will still retain the timeout used to initiate the first coach’s challenge if the challenge is successful. However, the team will not retain the timeout used to initiate the second challenge whether it is successful or not.

Flop rule

The Board of Governors also approved an in-game flopping penalty. If a flopping penalty is assessed by game officials, the opposing team will be awarded one free throw attempt. A player who commits a flop will be charged with a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul. Players will not be ejected based on flopping violations. Officials are not required to stop live play to call a flopping violation. They can wait until the next neutral opportunity to stop play and assess the penalty.