Whatever pre-game routine your favorite players, and teams, have will have to be drastically cut down this season with the introduction of a 90-second rule by the NBA. From the beginning of the regular season teams will have just 90-seconds from the end of player introductions until the ball is tipped off, players have been notified that the new rule will be a point of emphasis with officials.
NBA spokesperson Tim Frank explained the rule.
“There’s a 90-second countdown, it is placed on the clock,” Frank said. “At 30 seconds, there’s a warning horn and alert by the refs. At the end, teams need to be ready to tip off or face a delay-of-game warning.”
Two delay-of-game warnings would result in a technical foul. All eyes will be on Miami’s LeBron James who usually goes through his pre-game ritual of tossing chalk into the air at the scorers table, the Heat forward said he doesn’t foresee changing his routine up though.
“I won’t change it, I’ll be able to work it in,” James said. “We’ll figure it out.”
