Referee Dan Crawford could tell you when a play should be reviewed or you could read the rules here on NBA.com.
(Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images)
Official Rules of the NBA
The 2008-09 NBA season brings expanded use of instant replay by NBA referees.

Now that you're up to speed on the changes, time to refresh yourself on the old ones. Sure, you know your twos from threes, a blocked shot from a personal foul, but how well do you really know the NBA rules? For example, do you know that instant replay can be used at any point during a game to determine whether a field goal was correctly scored as a two- or three-point field goal? You can now by checking out the league's official rules as well as those most often misunderstood. Use the links below to navigate the NBA's 2007-08 rule book and case book, which contains questions and answers to the rules.

Referee Assignments
Rules changes for 2008-09
Rules changes for 2007-08
NBA Rules History
2008-09 Rule Book (PDF)
2008-09 Referee Guide (PDF)
NBA's Most Misunderstood Rules
Official Referee Hand Signals Illustrated

Ask Bernie: Do referees wait to call fouls?
Bernie Fryer, Vice President and Director of NBA Officials, takes questions about this very important rule. Read Article
Any more questions? Send Bernie an email.

Making the Call: In the Cylinder or Not?
Ronnie Nunn helps you understand how referees determine whether a ball is in the cylinder or not.
Watch Video

Making the Call: 3-Point Video Replay
Ronnie Nunn, the Director of Development for Officials, explains the new 3-point video replay rule.
Watch Video

Baron Davis' new contract had to adhere to the collective bargaining agreement.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
Collective Bargaining Agreement
What's a Mid-level Exception? How long can a free-agent contract be? How about a rookie contract? The answers to those questions and more can be found in the collective bargaining agreement that was signed in 2005 and runs through the 2010-11 season.
2008-09 Key Dates
Oct. 27, 2008 - Rosters set for opening day, 6 p.m. ET
Oct. 28, 2008 - Start of the NBA Regular Season
Feb. 15, 2009 - 2009 NBA All-Star Game (Phoenix, AZ)
Feb. 19, 2009 - Trading Deadline, 3 p.m. ET
April 15, 2009 - Regular Season ends
April 16, 2009 - Rosters set for playoffs, 3 p.m. ET
April 18, 2009 - Playoffs begin
More Key Dates


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