NBA Flagrant Fouls Explained: Difference Between Flagrant 1 vs. Flagrant 2 and Player Suspension Rules

They may be annoying and sometimes seem unnecessary, but without rules there would only be anarchy. Rules help create order and give a sense of consistency by setting precedents. There are rules for everything and they are everywhere. Even the nba has a strict set of rules, which referees must ensure are followed at all times during the game.

And like most rules, the rules in the NBA can be a little complicated at times. Especially flagrant fouls, which can sometimes seem like an arbitrary decision of the referees.

What exactly is a flagrant foul? And what is the difference between a type 1 flagrant error and a type 2 flagrant error? Let’s break it down using the NBA rulebook.

What is a fatal type 1 error?

According to NBA rules, a flagrant foul 1 is an “unnecessary” foul. What is “redundant” is open to interpretation, but here’s the official wording:

• Rule 12B, Section IV-a. If contact made against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted as unnecessarya type 1 flagrant foul will be applied. A personal foul will be charged to the offender and a team foul to the team.
• All flagrant fouls are reviewed. A player who commits two type 1 flagrant fouls in one match is sent off. The team with the foul gets two free throws and retains possession of the ball.

This is an example of flagrant foul 1 from the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. In this game, Chris Paul headbutted New Orleans Pelicans rookie Herb Jones on a drive for a basket. The umpires reviewed the play and ruled that Paul’s hit was “unnecessary,” especially since it hit Jones in the head.

What is a fatal type 2 error?

A type 2 flagrant foul is an “unnecessary” foul that is also “excessive”. And just like a Type 1 flagrant foul, a Type 2 flagrant foul is open to interpretations.

Here is the official wording of what constitutes a Type 2 flagrant foul according to the NBA rulebook:

• Rule 12B, Section IV-b. If contact made against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted as unnecessary and excessivea type 2 flagrant foul will be applied. A personal foul will be charged to the offender and a team foul to the team.
• All flagrant fouls are reviewed. In this case, the player committing the foul is sent off. The team with the foul has two free throws and retains possession of the ball.

This is an example of a Type 2 flagrant foul from the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. In this game, Draymond Green hit Brandon Clark on a shot attempt and then dragged him to the ground by grabbing him by the shoulder. shirt.

According to umpire Kane Fitzgerald, who officiated the game, Green received a flagrant 2 for “Hit him in the face, grab his shirt and send him to the ground”.

What criteria does the NBA take into account to review potential flagrant fouls?

The NBA and its referees are taking note six different criteria when considering a potential gross failure.

From the NBA rulebook:

1. The seriousness of the contact.
2. Whether or not the player made a legal basketball play (for example, if a player makes a legal attempt to block a shot; however, note that a foul committed during a block attempt may be considered a flagrant if other criteria are met, such as recklessness and rough head contact),
3. If, in a foul committed with a player’s arm or hand, the player continues after first contact
4. The potential for injury resulting from the contact (for example, a hit to the head and a foul committed when the receiving player is in a vulnerable position).
5. The severity of any injury suffered by the player who received the infringement.
6. What was created by the contact (for example, if it caused an argument).

What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 flagrant foul?

Simply put, a Type 1 flagrant foul is an “unnecessary” foul. A type 2 flagrant foul, on the other hand, is “unnecessary” and “excessive”.

Can a player be penalized for committing too many flagrant fouls?

Yes of course. For each flagrant foul committed, a player accumulates points. If a player exceeds three flagrant foul points, they will earn an automatic one-game stoppage.

Once suspended, a player’s point total is not reduced to zero. Therefore, if you commit another flagrant foul, you will earn more points and have to serve an automatic two-game suspension.

• Here’s how the points break down for flagrant fouls:

Flagrant foul 1 = 1 point
Flagrant foul 2 = 2 points

A well-known example of a player being sent off for accumulating too many flagrant foul points is Draymond Green suspended in 2016 Finals between Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Green called a Type 1 flagrant foul on LeBron James in the Finals and, because he had other flagrant fouls in that postseason, he was automatically suspended for Game 5. Total, Green had racked up 4 flagrant foul points (two type 1 flagrant fouls + one type 2 flagrant foul = four points) during the Playoffs and Finals.

Cleveland won that fifth game and the next two games, winning came back from 3-1 down to finish champion.

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.