The NBA is making a significant rule change heading into the 2025-26 season: defenders will now be penalized for making contact with a shooter’s hand during or immediately after a shot.
Commonly referred to in past years as the “high-five rule,” this update is designed to reduce unnecessary contact and better protect offensive players, especially perimeter shooters. One of the most influential voices advocating for this change has been none other than Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
For years, Curry and other elite shooters have expressed frustration over defenders exploiting a gray area in the rules. Previously, if a defender struck a shooter’s hand, as long as they also touched the ball or the contact occurred after the ball was released, officials often let it go.
This made it difficult for shooters to get clean looks, especially on three-point attempts, and increased the risk of hand and finger injuries.
Curry has long pushed for change. He argued that while aggressive defense is part of the game, players crossing the line by targeting a shooter’s hands, even after the ball is released, should not be considered fair play.
“When you go from a legitimate contest to attacking the hands, that’s where the foul should be called,” Curry explained. “You can still play great defense without doing that.”
His concerns have finally been addressed. The league has officially clarified that any contact made with a shooter’s hand during their follow-through, even if the ball is already gone, will now be called a foul.
The rule is meant to eliminate what’s known as “hot stove contact,” where defenders swing at a shooter’s hand to disrupt their rhythm or follow-through.
A veteran’s influence on league policy
The impact of the change was already visible during preseason. In a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Curry hit a three-pointer while defender Toumani Camara made contact with his hand during the release.
The officials awarded Curry a four-point play, a sequence he said would rarely have been called in previous seasons. “We’ve been trying to get that called for years,” Curry said postgame, satisfied that shooters are finally getting proper protection.
At 37-years-old and entering his 17th NBA season, Curry’s voice carries weight. Though he has hinted at retirement in the coming years, he remains focused on influencing the game for the better, both through his play and his leadership. His persistence in advocating for player safety has clearly helped shape the league’s evolving approach to defense and officiating.
As the new rule is implemented, players, coaches, and fans alike will be watching closely to see how consistently it’s enforced, and whether it helps level the playing field for shooters in a league that’s increasingly dominated by perimeter play.
Read the full article here
