Defensive three-second violation

A defensive three-second violation, also known as illegal defense, is a basketball rules infraction in the National Basketball Association (NBA) introduced in the 2001-2002 season. It is assessed when a member of the defending team spends more than three seconds in the free throw lane (also called the key, the 16-foot lane, or "in the paint") while not actively guarding an opponent. To be considered actively guarding, a defender must be within arm's length of an opponent and in a guarding position.^[1] A three-second count is suspended if:^{[2][clarification needed]}

• a player is in the act of shooting
• there is a loss of team control
• the defender is actively guarding an opponent
• the defender clears the painted area
• it is imminent the defender will become legal

In addition, a player guarding an opponent with the ball may be in the paint without actively guarding the opponent.^[3]

The team committing a defensive three-second violation is assessed a team technical foul. The offense receives one free throw and retains possession of the ball.^[4]

Prior to the 1983-1984 NBA season, any form of zone defense was considered an illegal defense violation and resulted in a warning on the first violation and then a technical foul for any subsequent violations.^[5] However, the defensive three-second violation makes it difficult for NBA defenses to play zone, since zone defenses usually position a player in the middle of the key to stop penetration.^[6] The Philippine Basketball Association used to follow the illegal defense rule until the 2003 PBA season when it was abolished.^[7] The high school game does not use this rule, nor does European basketball.

The WNBA started using it in 2013.^[8]

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