Hand-Checking Limited Above Foul Line Extended

The Rule Change

The NBA restricted hand-checking for defenders guarding the ball-handler above the foul line extended. Defenders could no longer place and maintain a hand on a ball-handler's hip or body to impede their progress in the backcourt and perimeter areas.

Statistical Impact

This was the original hand-checking rule — a quarter century before the more famous 2004 crackdown. The immediate impact was modest because enforcement was inconsistent, and physical defense remained the norm throughout the 1980s and 1990s. But it established the principle that the league would eventually enforce fully in 2004.

3-Year Average: Before vs. After