Is the NBA finally ready to rethink its policy towards intentional fouling?
During his annual State of the Union address from All-Star Weekend, commissioner Adam Silver told reporters on Saturday that the league may change its so-called “Hack-a-Shaq” rules this summer after years of debates.
Citing a significant uptick in intentional fouling during the 2015–16 season, Silver said that he personally was rethinking the issue.
“Up to the All-Star break this season, we’re seeing the Hack-a-Shaq strategy used at roughly a five and a half times greater rate than it was used last season,” Silver noted.
“So to the extent that the data is coming in, it’s showing there is a clear trend and that clearly our coaches who are smart and using very complex analytics believe it is benefiting them.”
Silver said that “no clear consensus” has formed as to what the new rule would look like and that the rules wouldn’t change this season.
