NBA to Crack Down on Hand-Checking Fouls
Starting in 2026/27, NBA referees will watch more closely for ball-handlers who push or displace defenders with the free hand while dribbling.
The NBA will tell referees to look harder at hand-checking during dribbles from the 2026/27 season, according to Sports.ru.
The rule itself does not change. A ball-handler who pushes, holds or otherwise displaces a defender with the free hand can still be whistled for a foul under the existing wording. What changes is how closely officials watch for it.
The league wants referees to give far more attention to those moments than they have done, flagging cases where a player with the ball uses the off-hand to create space or shift a defender out of the way.
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