Overview

• Referees are now instructed to call fouls when defenders hit a shooter’s hand, wrist or forearm on the follow-through, while incidental palm contact at release remains legal.
• Senior officiating executive Monty McCutcheon outlined the guidance in a Sept. 26 video that distinguished legal contests from secondary chops to the arm.
• League representatives briefed the Warriors during training camp, and Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry welcomed the focus on protecting shooters.
• Curry already drew a four-point play in preseason against Portland when Toumani Camara contacted his arm after release under the new emphasis.
• The emphasis follows spring playoff complaints that Dillon Brooks targeted Curry’s injured thumb, and it could matter for Curry given his historically low free-throw rate relative to usage.