What is the NBA defensive 3-second rule / violation? Explaining its importance in the modern game
The NBA defensive 3-second rule is one of the easier rules to learn for a new fan. While fans might see this happen in multiple games and it doesn't get called, there are reasons for that.
For starters, the 3-second violation was created in 1936, but it was just an offensive foul that prevented offensive players from staying in the paint the entire time.
An offensive player can't stay in the paint for over three seconds, as that will be an offensive 3-second violation. A defensive 3-second violation, however, is a bit different. Defensively, the defensive player can't stay in the paint for over three seconds without guarding another player.
Defensive 3-second violation examples
Examples are the best way for new fans and even some existing fans to learn about the 3-second violation. As seen here, Donovan Mitchell was camped in the paint for too long and was called for the violation.
The reason Mitchell was called for the violation is that he wasn't guarding anyone while in the paint.
I desperately need to know why a defensive three second call made Jarrett Allen react this way 😂😂 https://t.co/yDL7MYTVJH
While the above examples are clear violations, the video below is a bit different. Many NBA fans have pondered that this is a clear 3-second violation on Draymond Green, but it technically isn't.
Remember, Green, in this situation, by the rule book, is guarding Russell Westbrook. This means that he can sag off of him and allow Westbrook to continue dribbling on the perimeter. As we can see, Draymond moved out of the paint the second Westbrook passed the ball to avoid a violation.
The Warriors guarding Westbrook oh no https://t.co/iMbrSsIyMk
The play has blown up on social media, with many fans saying that they wanted a 3-second rule called. It's a fair point to bring up, but this wouldn't be a violation in this situation.
There are other examples that have had others wondering why the violation wasn't called. As a fan, it's easy to find examples almost nightly of multiple violations. Centers, especially some of the biggest shot blockers in the league, often get called for defensive 3-second violations.
While it can be tough to argue with certain referees because they can always rule that the player is guarding someone, the NBA has admitted to missing some of these calls. This won't change as a referee would have to be locked in on a defensive player to notice that he's doing this.
Perhaps they can figure it out in the future, but for now, these calls will continue to be missed.