An NBA coach can challenge certain personal fouls, out-of-bounds calls, and called goaltending or basket-interference violations. A challenge is not available for every disputed play, and the team must have a timeout remaining. [1][2]
The key distinction is between the call that starts a challenge and the additional issues officials may examine during that review. For background on scoring and game clocks, see our guide to NBA basics for new fans.
What Can an NBA Coach Challenge?
The NBA identifies three eligible call categories. [2]
| Call | When a challenge is available |
|---|---|
| Personal foul | The foul was called against the challenging team. |
| Out-of-bounds violation | The challenging team was not awarded possession. |
| Goaltending or basket interference | The violation was called, outside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or any overtime period. |
Personal Fouls
A coach can dispute a personal foul charged to their own team. During that review, officials can also examine specified related matters, including the player responsible, nearby fouls, and continuation—whether the play qualifies as part of the shooting action. [2]
Out-of-Bounds Calls
The team must have been denied possession. Review can address more than the last touch: a closely connected foul may also affect the outcome. [2][4]
Goaltending and Basket Interference
There must be a called violation. The late-game restriction changes who can initiate review; it does not make every basket automatically reviewable. [2][6]
How Does a Coach Request a Challenge?
- Call a legal timeout immediately after the disputed call, unless a mandatory timeout or the opponent’s timeout is already underway.
- The head coach signals the challenge by twirling an index finger toward the officials while requesting the timeout, or as the official reports a player-requested timeout.
- The coach identifies the specific call during that interaction. [7]
Normally, the request must come before the ball is handed to the inbounder or free-throw shooter, or tossed for a jump ball. For a call immediately preceding a mandatory timeout or the opponent’s timeout, the coach has 30 seconds from the timeout’s start to signal and identify the challenge. [7]
How Many Challenges Does a Team Get—and What Happens to Its Timeouts?
A team starts with one challenge. Winning it earns a second. The NBA introduced that second opportunity for the 2023–24 season, but using it still costs a timeout, even when successful. [3]
| Outcome | Timeout consequence | Another challenge? |
|---|---|---|
| First challenge succeeds. | Timeout normally retained; mandatory-timeout exceptions apply. | Yes, a second challenge. |
| First challenge fails | Timeout charged. | No. |
| Second challenge succeeds or fails | Timeout charged either way. | No third challenge. |
Sources: NBA Rule 14 and the NBA’s July 11, 2023 announcement. [1][3]
Mandatory-timeout exception: A successful first challenge does not erase a mandatory timeout charged to the challenging team. If the challenge fails during that mandatory timeout, the team is charged once, not twice. [1]
What Can Officials Change During the Review?
Officials need clear, conclusive video evidence to overturn a ruling. The review is limited to the matters permitted for that challenge type. A beneficial adjustment alone does not necessarily mean the challenge succeeded. [1]
A Foul Discovered During an Out-of-Bounds Review
Since the 2024–25 season, an out-of-bounds challenge can uncover a previously uncalled foul near the violation. Officials consider the players involved, the distance between the events, and the time between them. This is not permission to search an entire possession for unrelated contact. [4]
The NBA changed responsibility for that decision beginning in 2025–26: the Replay Center official determines whether the nearby foul should have been called. The September 10, 2025 announcement supersedes older wording assigning that decision to the on-court crew chief. [5]
What Changes in the Final Two Minutes?
In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and each overtime period, review of called goaltending or basket interference is initiated by on-court officials when they are uncertain about the ruling. Coaches cannot initiate those reviews through a challenge. [6]
That restriction does not eliminate eligible personal-foul or out-of-bounds challenges. Out-of-bounds replay still requires a coach’s challenge; there is no general automatic last-touch review simply because the game is close. [2]
NBA Challenge Scenarios Explained
The following examples are hypothetical. Timeout examples assume no mandatory timeout is involved.
| Situation | Result | What it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
| A coach wins the team’s first challenge, then later wins its second. | The first timeout is retained; the second is charged. [3] | Two successful reviews can have different timeout costs. |
| Team A challenges an out-of-bounds call. Replay shows Team B touched it last, but only after a nearby foul by Team A. | The foul can be assessed and Team A’s challenge unsuccessful. [4] | Last touch alone may not settle the review. |
| A shooting foul becomes a non-shooting foul but remains on the same player. | The challenge is unsuccessful and the timeout is charged. [1] | Changing the penalty is different from overturning the foul. |
| Goaltending is called with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter. | On-court officials may initiate review if uncertain; the coach cannot challenge it. [6] | The late-game exception is specific to the call type. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Winning a Second Challenge Earn a Third?
No. The successful-first-challenge rule provides one additional opportunity, not an unlimited sequence. [3]
What Happens if a Team Has No Timeouts Left?
It cannot challenge. Attempting one without a timeout results in no review and an excessive-timeout technical foul. [7]
Can a coach directly challenge a missed foul or travelling call?
No. Non-calls and travelling calls are not independent challenge triggers. Technical and flagrant fouls also cannot independently be challenged. Certain related issues can still be considered within an otherwise valid review. [7]
Does Overturning a Foul Always Mean a Jump Ball?
No. Resumption depends on the play and applicable possession rules. The rules generally use the point of interruption—the ball’s location when the whistle sounded—with specific scoring exceptions. Winning the challenge alone does not determine the restart. [1][8]
Sources and References
- NBA. “Official 2025–26 NBA Playing Rules,” Rule 14. 2025–26 edition; publication date unstated. Accessed November 12, 2026. https://cdn.nba.com/manage/2026/01/Official-2025-26-NBA-Playing-Rules.pdf
- NBA Official. “Coach’s Challenge.” Dated November 13, 2019; page includes later amendments. Accessed November 12, 2026. https://official.nba.com/trigger/coachs-challenge/
- NBA Official. “NBA Board of Governors Approves In-Game Flopping Penalty and Expanded Use of Coach’s Challenge.” July 11, 2023. https://official.nba.com/nba-board-of-governors-approves-in-game-flopping-penalty-and-expanded-use-of-coachs-challenge/
- NBA Official. “NBA Expands Use of Instant Replay on Out-of-Bounds Reviews.” September 10, 2024. https://official.nba.com/nba-expands-use-of-instant-replay-on-out-of-bounds-reviews/
- NBA Communications. “NBA Team Markets to Host Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals Beginning with 2026–27 Season.” September 10, 2025; includes the Coach’s Challenge amendment effective in 2025–26. https://pr.nba.com/nba-cup-semifinal-host-sites-coachs-challenge-rules/
- NBA Official. “Rule No. 13: Instant Replay.” Undated; accessed November 12, 2026. https://official.nba.com/rule-no-13-instant-replay/
- NBA Official. “Rule No. 14: Coach’s Challenge.” Undated; accessed November 12, 2026. Used for procedure and eligibility; the older review-authority wording is superseded by source 5. https://official.nba.com/rule-no-14-coachs-challenge/
- NBA Official. “Rule No. 4: Definitions,” Point of Interruption. Undated; accessed November 12, 2026. https://official.nba.com/rule-no-4-definitions/
