The first time you watched an NBA game, you may have noticed that they have quite a few different rules than other levels of basketball.
Whether it’s defensive 3 seconds or actual jump balls, plenty of rules make the NBA unique and challenging to follow at times.
One example would be the "clear path foul" rule.
This post will cover what a clear path foul is, what penalties are associated with this foul, why the NBA instituted the rule, and we'll show you some examples of a clear path foul.
What is a Clear Path Foul?
In its simplest terms, a clear path foul occurs when a defender fouls an offensive player with a clear path to the basket on a transition opportunity.
However, specific criteria must be met in order to qualify.
First, the ball must be ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt when the foul occurs.
Then, there must be no defensive player ahead of the offensive player who has the chance to score on the fast break.
In addition, the player with this opportunity to score must either be in control of the ball or have the pass released to him when the foul occurs.
The last piece that must be met for a clear path foul to be called is that the foul prevented the offense from a transition scoring opportunity.
What is NOT a Clear Path Foul
Some instances might look like a clear path foul, but they are actually not considered such.
First, if an offensive player out ahead of everyone in transition is fouled by a defender making a play on the ball to get a deflection or interception, it will not be called a clear path foul.
Instead, basketball rules would consider it a common defensive foul, and the offensive team would inbound the ball from the closest spot to where the foul occurred.
Also, if an offensive player gets fouled while shooting, even while ahead of the defense, it would not be considered a clear path foul either.
Instead, it would be a common shooting foul, and the offensive player would get at least one free throw depending on whether the shot was made.
Penalties for a Clear Path Foul
The penalties for a clear path foul are much steeper than a common foul on the defense.
What is the same is that the individual who committed the clear path foul penalty would be charged with a personal foul, and his team’s foul count would also increase by one.
The more severe part of the penalty is that the offensive team receives two free throws and gets the ball back on the sideline nearest the spot where play was interrupted.
4 Examples of Clear Path Fouls
1. Collin Sexton
A common occurrence that leads to a clear path foul is when a turnover occurs out top during an offensive possession.
That is what happens during this possession when Kelly Olynyk gets the ball taken away from him near the top of the key by Patrick Williams.
With Williams streaking to the opposite end of the basket for a dunk, Collin Sexton reaches out and wraps him up to keep that from happening.
Because there is no other defender in front of the ball and the Bulls would have scored in transition, the referee correctly called a clear path foul.
2. Joe Ingles
This is another example where a turnover at the top of the key leads to a clear path foul.
Joe Ingles gets the switch on a ball screen and throws a lazy pass to the roller. However, Josh Okogie deflects it, leading to a steal by D’Angelo Russell.
The two immediately begin streaking the other direction before Ingles grabs Russell at half court to stop the break.
Notice how Russell immediately looks at the referee and points to Okogie ahead of the pack, knowing that it is going to result in a clear path foul.
3. Kendall Marshall
Here’s one more example of a turnover leading to a clear path foul.
Pau Gasol is driving to the basket when Gerald Green reaches in to strip the ball away.
As Green is nearing the basket to finish with a dunk, Kendall Marshall cuts him off and grabs him to prevent the finish.
After an extended break for the officials to review the play, the clear path foul was called, much to the dismay of Coach D’Antoni.
However, the ball was in the front court, there was no other defender in front of the ball, and Green had control of the ball and was going to score. If there was a disagreement with the call, it may have been that it was a shooting foul, which I’m not sure would have been an improvement for the defense.
4. Max Christie
This clear path foul example is slightly different.
The Lakers are trailing late and hit a 3-pointer to get within a point. However, as they are scrambling around attempting to foul, the Cavaliers are able to inbound the ball and throw it ahead to Richaun Holmes heading to the basket.
Max Christie sprints to catch up and immediately begins fouling him to stop the clock.
However, because Holmes is ahead of everyone and is unobstructed to the basket, it is called a clear path foul.
Conclusion
The idea of most unique NBA rules is to create an advantage for the offensive team.
And the clear path foul is no different.
If an offensive player is out ahead of all the defenders and gets fouled before he can score in transition, it is a huge benefit for the offense as they get free throws and retain possession of the ball.
This means the clear path foul penalty is typically a massive defensive mistake, and it is likely much more beneficial to allow a crowd-pleasing dunk rather than commit the foul.