In late September, the NBA announced its points of emphasis and areas of focus for officiating, which included videos with narrated examples of the league’s new “points of education.” A week later, NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt broke them down in prose. So, with NBA Opening Day on October 20—and the Bucks’ season officially starting on October 21—it’s time fans hit the books. Of course, that’s arduous. So here, condensed for your convenience, are the “Cliff Notes.”
Offensive off arm
The point of emphasis: The league is cracking
down on offensive players using their off arm to push off and create space.
Why you should care: Defenders might finally be able to, you know, have some semblance of a chance to defend again. And with Taylor Jenkins prioritising a return to defensive aptitude—and Bucks fans wanting a return to the dawg days—this could work in their favour. Then again, as Zillgitt wrote, “There is some leeway, a fine line in which the player can use his off arm against the defender as the player with the ball uses his off arm to firm up or feel for the defender.”
Need more? Check out the NBA’s official video:
Two-handed screens
The point of emphasis: Screeners better do so legally—and that means without two hands.
Why you should care: Jericho Sims committed 28 offensive fouls last year, tied with Victor Wembanyama for the 10th most in the entire league. But Sims isn’t called for the same type of offensive fouls that Giannis was—he’s not barreling through opponents on his way to the cup. No, Sims’ come mostly from illegal screens. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Gyro Step podcast’s Rohan Katti:
F it Jericho Sims illegal screens from last season https://t.co/KdYgh3Gwve
— Rohan Katti (@RKattiJr) August 28, 2026
Get your nose in the books and your reps in the lab, Jumpman!
Flopping
The point of emphasis: Players called for flopping will receive a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and the opposing team will be awarded a free throw. But for such a foul to actually be called, it has to meet the STEM criteria:
- Secondary
- Theatrical
- Exaggerated
- Movement
Head snaps do not. They are embellishments, drawing attention to something that is illegal, so they are permissible.
Why you should care: Call me defeatist, but you probably shouldn’t. How can a referee possibly process a call that has its own set of four criteria in an instant? This will likely go the way of past points of emphasis—called several times early in the season only to be forgotten by December.
Reckless closeouts
The point of emphasis: Don’t be reckless when closing out. Simples.
Why you should care: If the Bucks’ preseason is anything to go by, they’ll be hoisting up a lot of long-range bombs this season. With that, they’ll face an increased number of closeouts. And with that, they’ll (potentially) face an increased number of reckless closeouts. Notably, “the shooter can fall to the floor in a sitting motion if he feels he’s protecting himself on a closeout.” Moreover, doing so “is not considered a flop.” So, pull up a pew, fellas. Stay safe!
Want more on these? Check out the NBA’s official video:
Wasting time before free throws
The point of emphasis: This one’s on the defensive team. They—players and coaches—need to stop time-wasting once a foul is called. Either challenge the call or don’t. Any filibustering will result in a delay of game violation.
Why you should care: For all the joy that NBA games bring, at times they drag on so much that it’s as if you’re back in the year 2000 listening to The Opposite of H20. This point of emphasis, then, might give you a few of those oh-so-precious minutes back. Paired with the absence of Giannis’ free throw routine, you might even find yourself looking for things to do!
And, just in case you truly are a sicko and want the tape, here it is:
What do you think, Brew Hoopers? Has the NBA got its points of emphasis right? And if you were in charge, what rules would you like to see emphasised?
