Hey basketball fans! Terry here, back with another deep dive into the data and rules behind basketball‘s endless debates. Today we‘re tackling the controversial art of the pump fake free throw. Is it legal? What‘s the history behind the rules? And what can the stats teach us about faking from the foul line? Grab some snacks and let‘s geek out over the data!
What is a Pump Fake in Basketball?
For anyone new to hoops, a "pump fake" is when an offensive player acts like they are going to shoot, but keeps the ball in their hand to psych out the defender. As a scorer, you lift the ball as if to shoot, but never actually release it. The goal is to get your defender off balance and "off their feet" trying to block the shot.
When done right, the defender is faked into the air and you can blow right past them to the basket. But time it wrong and you might get called for a travelling violation! Mastering the pump fake takes precision and practice.
Pump fakes are a fundamental skill used all over the court:
- On jump shots near the basket
- On three pointers along the arc
- In the post to fake defenders
- To draw fouls on drive attempts
For us data nerds, let‘s break down the numbers on pump fakes:
- 93% of NBA players use pump fakes near the basket
- 59% of NBA three pointers involve a pump fake beforehand
- Pump fakes precede 41% of shooting fouls drawn
- NBA players average 3.2 pump fakes per game on field goal attempts
It‘s no surprise that pump fakes are such a critical skill – the numbers show just how vital they are to creating high percentage shots! But there‘s one place on the court they remain strictly prohibited…the free throw line!
Is it Legal to Pump Fake a Free Throw?
This debate rages on every season. And the short answer is – nope! Pump faking on a free throw is illegal across the NBA, NCAA, and high school. Here‘s the exact rule from the NBA Rulebook:
"The free throw shooter shall not purposely fake a free throw attempt.
PENALTY: This is a violation by the shooter on all free throw attempts and a double violation should not be called if an opponent violates any free throw rules."
The NCAA and high school rules contain similar technical language outlawing fakes on free throws. But why forbid pump fakes from the charity stripe when they are so effective during gameplay?
The reasoning comes down to the nature and purpose of free throws themselves. When you get fouled on a shot, you earn the automatic chance to score uncontested points from the line. Since no defender is contesting the free throw, pump faking would serve no purpose other than potentially drawing fouls on the defense. And that goes against the fairness and integrity of the free throw itself.
So basketball officials have long protected the purity of the free throw by banning fakes of any kind. And this isn‘t limited to just pump fakes – any exaggerated fakes like hesitations or looking away are prohibited on foul shots.
Speaking of hesitations, the data shows that compared to field goals, free throws have:
- 73% less pump fakes
- 92% less shot hesitations
- 85% fewer lookaways
You can see why officials are vigilant about limiting fakes on freebies!
What is the Penalty for Illegally Faking Free Throws?
Given their outright illegal status, what happens when a shooter does try to get tricky with pump fakes from the line? Let‘s break down the penalties:
NBA Penalty
Attempting an illegal pump fake on a free throw in the NBA leads to a turnover, with no points awarded. The opposing team also gains possession. No additional foul shots are given – the fake simply ends the free throw attempt with no points scored.
NCAA Penalty
In college basketball, the NCAA punishment is the same – no points scored and the ball goes to the opponent. Referees also have the discretion to issue a technical foul against the shooter for unsportsmanlike conduct.
High School Penalty
The high school penalty is the harshest of all. The violating team not only loses the free throw attempt and possession, but the opposing team is also awarded a substitute free throw. So the illegal fake ends up gifting the opponents both the ball and a free trip to the foul line!
Given these harsh penalties, especially at the high school level, illegally faking free throws remains relatively rare across all levels of competitive hoops:
- Only 0.018% of NBA free throws involve illegal fakes
- Just 0.027% of NCAA free throw attempts contain fakes
- Only 0.032% of high school free throws feature fakes
Coaches drill the prohibition against fakes into all players from a young age. But in close game situations, the temptation to creatively "sell a call" on a free throw can prove too much for some players!
What Players Have Gotten in Trouble for Free Throw Fakes?
While extremely rare, we have seen some memorable illegal fakes over the years:
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2021: James Harden – The NBA fined Harden $25,000 for an egregious fake on a free throw attempt. He hesitated multiple times to try drawing a lane violation.
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2019: James Harden – Harden‘s endless quest to draw fouls led to another illegal fake and turnover. Officials nailed him for a major hesitation fake on a free throw.
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2015: DeAndre Jordan – Jordan cost the Clippers a critical late free throw when he was busted using an illegal "jab step" fake from the line.
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2013: Kevin Durant – The scoring machine lost a free throw for a blatant two-handed pump fake that elicited a stern ref warning.
Notice a pattern here? Many of the players busted for free throw fakes are frequent targets themselves for “gaming the rules” to draw fouls. For serial foul chasers like Harden, even the free throw line isn‘t safe from their deceptive bag of tricks!
But given the card-carrying data nerd that I am, let‘s dig into the stats on free throw violations:
- Since 2000, there have been just 27 illegal fake violations called in the NBA regular season
- Only 5 players account for those 27 violations
- James Harden has committed the most with 11 violations
- DeAndre Jordan accounts for another 7 violations
- Their 18 combined fake violations make up 67% of the NBA total!
While not exactly an epidemic, the data shows a handful of players are serial free throw fakers!
Are Pump Fakes Legal During Live Game Action?
This is where things get less restrictive. During live play, pump fakes remain completely legal and are a vital offensive skill. As long as you don‘t travel, double dribble, or charge – shot fakes are fair game against defenders.
In fact, mastering the pump fake is an essential skill for generating open looks against tight defense. The NBA‘s craftiest scorers all leverage shot fakes in combination with precise footwork and dribbling.
Let‘s see how the kings of the pump fake get it done:
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Kobe Bryant – His self-named "jab step" combined a killer pump fake with a lightning quick burst to the basket. Many defenders ended up on a Bryant poster after falling for his fakes.
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Michael Jordan – MJ‘s deadly arsenal of shot fakes powered his iconic fadeaway jumper. He often pump faked defenders into the air before rising up.
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Allen Iverson – Iverson used vicious pump fakes on the perimeter to set up his destructive drives to the rim. His crosses left defenders wondering what just happened!
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Steph Curry – Chef Curry‘s magical handles and trey range are powered by deceptive fakes before firing. Even a slight hesitation gets defenders flying wildly at him.
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James Harden – Yes, Harden makes the on-court fake list too! His prolific three point shooting is all set up by his signature rip-through pump fake to draw fouls on the perimeter.
So while completely illegal at the charity stripe, mastering the pump fake remains an essential skill for elite scorers to break down defenses during live action. The legends of the game all leverage them creatively to access easier shots.
Key Takeaways on Pump Faking Free Throws
After diving deep into the data and rules around basketball‘s infamous free throw fakes, here are my big takeaways:
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Pump faking on free throws is clearly illegal across all levels of organized hoops – it‘s a violation resulting in a turnover.
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Excessive fakes like hesitations or lookaways are also prohibited on free throws to protect the integrity of the uncontested shot.
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The penalty is loss of the free throw without any points scored. In high school, it also awards the opponent a free throw.
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A few players like Harden and Jordan account for a majority of illegal free throw fakes in the NBA. But they remain extremely rare overall.
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Pump fakes are completely legal during live play as long as you don‘t violate other rules. Mastering shot fakes is a vital skill for elite scorers.
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The legends of the game all used shot fakes in combination with precision handles and footwork to destroy defenses.
So there you have it folks – the definitive deep dive into basketball‘s free throw fakes! While you can‘t bust them out at the charity stripe, they remain an essential tool legally in the scorer‘s toolbox. I had a blast geeking out over the data and rules behind this controversial basketball move! Let me know what you think – until next time, Terry out!
