What happens if a fan interferes in a key moment?

[NyKnicks1714]

Consider the example of a fan running onto the floor and disrupting a fast break late in a game, resulting in a turnover or a miss.

As far as I know there's nothing in the rule book about it, although it's incredibly unlikely to ever happen. Still though, the NBA should cover itself and put something in writing. Right now I expect all the refs can do is award the ball to the team that had possession, but there's nothing in the rules allowing a technical to be assessed or allowing the officials to award points, which should be the case.

(Serious thread unlike the one that just got posted and deleted)

[Flash Falcon X]

Hopefully it doesn’t happen since it’s security’s job to ensure no one runs on the court. I remember a few years back a kid went on the court to hug Carmelo—it was a cute moment but I heard one of the security guards working that game got fired since they take these things seriously. Not sure if it’s true, though.

If a fan does interfere perhaps they give possession back to the team with the ball and out time back on the clock, but I suspect a lot of people would protest this depending on who the interference screws over.

[The_Hater]

Hopefully it doesn’t happen since it’s security’s job to ensure no one runs on the court. I remember a few years back a kid went on the court to hug Carmelo—it was a cute moment but I heard one of the security guards working that game got fired since they take these things seriously. Not sure if it’s true, though.

If a fan does interfere perhaps they give possession back to the team with the ball and out time back on the clock, but I suspect a lot of people would protest this depending on who the interference screws over.

Security only really guards the court during timeouts, there’s really nothing keeping a fan in the first few rows from running on the court and doing something like this while the game is on. It could happen in a split second.

[Tim Kempton]

This actually happened during a 1954 game between the Syracuse Nationals and Fort Wayne Pistons. It was a chilly November day and an abnormally tall fan ran on the court to block Red Rocha's shot with just two minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The referees paused the game and located a motherless kitten they saw earlier in the day that had been living in the arena due to the inclement conditions outside. They slit the newborn kitten's throat at half-court and drew a pentagram with its blood. There has not been another incident of fan interference since.

[NyKnicks1714]

Hopefully it doesn’t happen since it’s security’s job to ensure no one runs on the court. I remember a few years back a kid went on the court to hug Carmelo—it was a cute moment but I heard one of the security guards working that game got fired since they take these things seriously. Not sure if it’s true, though.

If a fan does interfere perhaps they give possession back to the team with the ball and out time back on the clock, but I suspect a lot of people would protest this depending on who the interference screws over.

Security only really guards the court during timeouts, there’s really nothing keeping a fan in the first few rows from running on the court and doing something like this while the game is on. It could happen in a split second.

It would be incredibly easy, unfortunately. The number one concern is obviously player safety, so I get why this hasn't really been addressed by the NBA, but there should be a rule in the books allowing the officials to award points at their discretion.

[SNPA]

This actually happened during a 1954 game between the Syracuse Nationals and Fort Wayne Pistons. It was a chilly November day and an abnormally tall fan ran on the court to block Red Rocha's shot with just two minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The referees paused the game and located a motherless kitten they saw earlier in the day that had been living in the arena due to the inclement conditions outside. They slit the newborn kitten's throat at half-court and drew a pentagram with its blood. There has not been another incident of fan interference since.

I believe it.

-Q supporter

[JimmyPlopper]

There is precedent for games being stopped for reasons outside of the players control. A playoff game between the Pistons and Sixers features Cliff Robinson taking (and sinking) a jumper while the lights in the entire arena instantly shut off. They didn't count the basket. Restart the play from the moment of interference with a jump ball if possession was not clear.

[Dr Aki]

This actually happened during a 1954 game between the Syracuse Nationals and Fort Wayne Pistons. It was a chilly November day and an abnormally tall fan ran on the court to block Red Rocha's shot with just two minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The referees paused the game and located a motherless kitten they saw earlier in the day that had been living in the arena due to the inclement conditions outside. They slit the newborn kitten's throat at half-court and drew a pentagram with its blood. There has not been another incident of fan interference since.

[Jakay]

I hope that if it ever happens, that fan is wearing a team jersey and calls for a pass, being wide open, and gets it.

[JujitsuFlip]

Different sport but I immediately thought of Steve Bartman.

[batmana]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a Brazilian soccer game where a fan runs on the pitch and saves a goal (ball was rolling into the empty net, not sure from how far out the shot was taken but obviously no goalkeeper). I think they even said it was supposed to be a winning goal or something and in Brazil where football (soccer) is literally religion, you can imagine what happened on the pitch... But obviously nothing in the rulebook can give you the goal, or even a penalty against the opposing team.

[Gusto1903]

Its actually crazy, that this hasnt ever happened so far in the nba. especially in todays society, where people to literally anything for clout lol

[The Corey's]

Different sport but I immediately thought of Steve Bartman.

That wasn't fan interference.

[queridiculo]

The refs wouldn't really be able to do much beyond resetting the clock and sorting out possession.

To me the bigger question would be what would the league do following the game if this conduct conceivably changed the outcome of something like a pivotal game 7.

There's some precedent for putting teams back on the court to play out the final minute of a game.

https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3192421

ATLANTA -- For the first time since 1982, the NBA is sending
two teams back to the court for a do-over.

The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat must replay the final 51.9
seconds of their game last month because the official scorer ruled
incorrectly that Shaquille O'Neal fouled out, the league said
Friday.

The Hawks won 117-111 at home in overtime Dec. 19 (2007), but strike
that one from the books. For now, playoff-contending Atlanta has
one less win, while the Heat have one less loss on their miserable
record.

[Lalouie]

i hope it's jail time and a hefty fine. i could never understand how they could enforce a lifetime ban. do arenas have a facial recognition system in place?

[dhsilv2]

I hope that if it ever happens, that fan is wearing a team jersey and calls for a pass, being wide open, and gets it.

obligatory

https://youtu.be/zJqnpoJPDMM?t=242

stupid forum doesn't like time stamps but whatever.

[dhsilv2]

I thought it was possible to assess a technical on the fans but not sure about that.

[JujitsuFlip]

Different sport but I immediately thought of Steve Bartman.

That wasn't fan interference.

Says who?

[DaGawd]

Its actually crazy, that this hasnt ever happened so far in the nba. especially in todays society, where people to literally anything for clout lol

Probably the fear of being dunked on by an abnormally large human being

[Gusto1903]

Its actually crazy, that this hasnt ever happened so far in the nba. especially in todays society, where people to literally anything for clout lol

Probably the fear of being dunked on by an abnormally large human being

Just punch him in the Spaldings