In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a player fouls out of the game after committing six personal fouls. If the game goes into overtime, this rule remains the same—six personal fouls still lead to disqualification.
What Is a Personal Foul?
A personal foul in the NBA is any type of illegal physical contact made by a player against an opponent. This can include:
- Reaching in
- Blocking
- Charging
- Holding
- Illegal screens
- Hand-checking (to a degree)
Each personal foul is tracked throughout the game, and once a player accumulates six, they are no longer eligible to participate and must leave the game.
Team Fouls and Bonus Free Throws
In addition to individual fouls, the NBA also monitors team fouls. Once a team accumulates five team fouls in a single quarter, the opposing team is awarded two free throws for each subsequent non-shooting foul—this is known as the bonus.
Technical and Flagrant Fouls
It’s also worth noting that technical and flagrant fouls can lead to ejections:
- Two technical fouls result in an automatic ejection.
- One flagrant 2 foul also results in an ejection.
- Flagrant 1 fouls are serious but don’t lead to automatic ejection unless repeated.
Summary
- 6 personal fouls = disqualification (foul out)
- 2 technical fouls = ejection
- 1 flagrant 2 foul = ejection
- Team fouls lead to bonus free throws after 5 in a quarter
Understanding the foul rules is essential for both players and fans, as it plays a key role in game strategy, especially during close contests or in the playoffs.
