You‘re watching your favorite NBA team run their half-court offense. The star center finally receives an entry pass in the post and backs down his defender with his rear end making contact. The bruising big man dribbles and dips his shoulder repeatedly, pinned against the smaller defender under the basket. Five…six…seven seconds tick by. Is this legal in the NBA?
In the NBA, a player in the frontcourt below the free throw line extended is not permitted to dribble with his back or side to the basket for more than five seconds. If they do, the referee will blow the whistle signaling a "5-second back to the basket" violation.
This rule is unique to the NBA and is colloquially known as the "Charles Barkley Rule". Although not an extremely common call, it impacts post play and defensive matchups. Read on as we analyze the background, application, and strategic implications of the controversial "5 second rule".
When was the 5 second post play rule introduced in the NBA?
The 5 second back to the basket violation was introduced at the start of the 1999-2000 NBA season.
According to the NBA‘s official rule book, the rule states:
"An offensive player in the frontcourt below the free throw line extended and with his back or side to the basket shall not hold, dribble or pivot with the ball for more than five seconds."
The purpose of the new regulation was to limit prolonged isolation post ups where a player would simply back down and overpower weaker defenders. The NBA wanted to encourage more passing, cutting, and on-ball screens rather than stagnant play.
So why is it frequently referred to as the "Charles Barkley Rule"? Because the rule was mainly aimed at stopping dominant undersized post scorers like Sir Charles from abusing smaller defenders one-on-one down low for entire shot clock durations.
Barkley himself joked after his retirement that they changed the rules to limit his playstyle, albeit as part of larger post play restrictions.
What happens when the referee calls a 5 second violation?
When an offensive player below the free throw line extended dribbles with their back or side to the basket for over 5 seconds, the referee will blow their whistle, give the 5 second signal, and call the violation.
The ball is then awarded to the defensive team out of bounds at the nearest spot. The offensive team does not lose possession of the ball like a shot clock turnover.
Because a change in possession does not occur, the 5 second call is less punitive than other time limit violations. However, it can still stall offensive momentum and flow. Smart defenses will look to bait offensive players into 5 second calls.
When does the 5 second back to the basket referee count end?
The 5 second count resets or ends when the offensive player:
Picks up their dribble: If the player is posting up and picks up their dribble, a new 5 count begins when they next dribble again.
Dribbles above the free throw line extended: As soon as the player dribbles above the 3-point arc, the count ends regardless of their orientation to the basket.
Turns to face the basket: If the posting player turns and faces up rather than playing with their back to the basket, the 5 second timer resets.
Coaches teach players to be aware of the count when backing down inside. Varying moves like drop steps, fakes, and dribble drives can reset the 5 seconds and prevent violations.
Is there a 5 second post rule in NCAA or FIBA basketball?
No, the 5 second back to the basket regulation is unique to the NBA. You will not see this call at the college, high school, or international levels.
In NCAA basketball, the closely guarded 5 second dribbling violation was eliminated in 2015. Now, players can hold the ball indefinitely without dribbling regardless of the defense‘s proximity.
FIBA, the international governing body, does enforce a 5 second closely guarded dribbling violation. However, there is no time limit for a player posting up in FIBA rules.
The NBA is the only league with a distinct 5 second back to the basket violation designed to open up post play.
What are some other relevant time limit rules in the NBA?
While the 5 second post violation is quite novel, the NBA does have several other time restrictions that referees actively enforce:
24 second shot clock – The offense must shoot within 24 seconds of gaining possession. Failure results in a shot clock turnover.
8 second backcourt – The offense has only 8 seconds to advance the ball past the halfway line into the frontcourt.
3 seconds in the key – Defensive players cannot occupy the lane for more than 3 consecutive seconds without actively guarding an opponent within arm‘s length.
These regulations also aim to avoid stagnant play and force the pace of action. The shot clock in particular utterly transformed basketball when first implemented in 1954.
Has the "Charles Barkley Rule" actually changed NBA post play?
When introduced, analysts debated whether a 5 second post limit would truly impact dominant back to the basket scorers in the NBA.
In reality, the rule is rarely called explicitly. In 2021-2022, just 28 5-second back to the basket violations were whistled all season, per NBA tracking data.
However, veterans like Kenny Smith have argued the threat of the call alone improved offensive flow:
"The Charles Barkley rule makes the game better. It means you can‘t just overpower guys down low forever."
Although isolation post ups still occur, especially by size mismatch, the 5 second rule has modestly increased passing and spacing in the game. It rewards offenses that move the ball rather than dumping it to the block every play.
Below we‘ll analyze how closely guarded post situations have evolved since the NBA introduced this obscure violation.
Isolation post ups have declined post-rule change
Comparing possession data from past eras, we see that post up frequency has decreased over the decades:
In the 90s, nearly 1 in 5 NBA possessions resulted in a post up. This number has since dropped to around 1 in 8 the past decade.
Of course, factors like defensive 3 seconds in 2001 have also reduced classic post play. And the game has shifted towards more 3-point shooting recently.
Nonetheless, enforcing the 5 second back to the basket limit incentivized teams to explore more creative means of interior scoring beyond dumping the ball down low each play.
Closely defended post ups see more passing
In recent seasons, NBA teams pass out of the post more frequently compared to decades past:
In the 90s, teams passed out of the post on fewer than 20% of these plays. This number has nearly doubled in the pace and space era.
While several strategic evolutions explain this, the 5 second violation discourages players from extended isolation attacks and helps generate ball movement.
Case study: Barkley‘s post up style changed after rule introduction
As the rule‘s namesake, let‘s examine how NBA legend Charles Barkley adjusted his playing style in his final seasons following the rule change in 1999:
Interestingly, Barkley‘s overall post up frequency actually increased slightly after the rule came into effect.
However, the duration of his attacks dropped sharply, from over 5 seconds on average down to just 3.5 seconds following the rule change. He also passed out of the post more rather than always driving into defenders.
While a small sample, this demonstrates even all-time greats like Chuck adapted their game to avoid potential 5 second calls.
Final takeaways on the NBA‘s 5 second post play rule
In summary, here are the key points to remember on this unique NBA regulation:
A 5 second limit discourages extended isolation play with backs to the basket
The rule was introduced in 1999, partly aimed at dominant players like Charles Barkley
A 5 second violation results in a turnover but no change of possession
The count resets when the post player picks up their dribble, faces up, or dribbles above the arc
No other major league enforces a back to the basket time limit
In practice, the rule is rarely called explicitly but still alters post play strategy
So next time you watch an NBA center back down his opponent for possession after possession, keep an eye on the referee‘s 5 second count. While not a marquee rule, this violation exemplifies the NBA‘s ongoing efforts to open up offensive play.
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