Hostile Act NBA: What is the 'Hostile Act' in NBA and when is it used?

The hostile act is defined in the NBA for reviewing certain altercations in the game. Here, we look at the details of the rule and how has this changed with the latest changes to the game.

The hostile act was created by the league to review altercations involving players, coaches or fans during the game. With growing technology, the rule was refined even finer in 2018. The rule has come back to discussion after an incident involving Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Boston Celtics.

What is the Hostile Act in NBA

The Hostile Act was brought into the NBA, with growing altercations between players and coaches. The NBA has done all it can to avoid any on-court altercations. And if they break out for some reason, the referees should be able to punish those involved accordingly.

The referees have also been given the ‘go-ahead’ to review such an incident, take their team and make a decision accordingly.

The NBA has had automatic replay reviews for certain player altercations since the 2007-08 season, which includes what are called hostile acts. The league describes the rule as the following:

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“Two or more players are engaged in a fight or a hostile physical interaction that is not part of normal basketball play and that does not immediately resolve by itself or with the intervention of game officials or players, or a player is ejected from the game for committing a hostile act against another player, for example, when a player intentionally or recklessly harms or attempts to harm another player with a punch, elbow, kick or blow to the head.”

With the new rule change in 2018, referees now go to replay review if a hostile act as described above is not just committed against another player but involves a referee, coach or fan. This rule has had a positive reaction as it gives referees greater discretion to look over who was involved pretty much any time a player gets into any altercation during the game.

The Giannis incident vs Celtics and Lakers vs Raptors

The NBA hostile act has again come under the scanner after a certain altercation between superstar Giannis and Celtics big man Daniel Theis. However, when the referees reviewed the play, Giannis escaped the foul charge. The Bucks superstar was on five fouls and with the help of the review went on to complete the game.

The Lakers vs Raptors game also had quite a few altercations, with the hostile act brought into play.

NBA referee James Capers addresses the controversial ‘hostile act’ call involving Giannis Antetokounmpo late in Celtics-Bucks game: pic.twitter.com/qZrNcybbnu

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 1, 2020