NBA fans erupt as long sought-after change announced: 'Took too long'

A long held frustration among NBA fans has finally been addressed by the league, with the widely disliked 'take foul' being legislated out of the game for next season.

Fans, players and executives have all been irritated by the practice in the last few seasons.

BIG DEAL: NBA world erupts over Aussie's connection with 'freakish' prospect

INSANITY: NBA world rocked by bombshell Kevin Durant decision

A 'take foul' is when a defender fouls an opponent deliberately to prevent a fast break and easy score, giving the defence a chance to set up on the next inbounds.

A proposal to change the rules to reduce the incentive for a defending team taking a foul has been discussed for months among NBA fans, many of whom feel the 'take foul' reduces the opportunities for players to make bold plays at the basket.

Under the proposed change, a defender to fouls an offensive player in on a fast break who doesn't make a clear play for the ball will be penalised with a foul, while the offensive team will shoot one free throw, then maintain possession of the ball.

The committee began meeting in Las Vegas over the weekend to discuss rule-change proposals.

The committee’s rule-change recommendations were brought to the Board of Governers, which was expected to unanimously vote in favor of the change, sources said.

On social media, fans were ecstatic that one of the most frustrating aspects of the NBA was finally being changed.

The take foul was overly used by teams on defense to eliminate fast-break opportunities in which the defending team was at a numbers disadvantage.

The tactic also led to a disruption of game flow and it bogged the game down.

Another modification the committee will submit to the BOG for approval will be enforcing proper bench decorum by issuing stiffer penalties, sources said.

NBA cracks down on player 'decorum' on bench

One of a few principal matters on decorum are players standing up at the bench for extended portions of the game, obstructing the view of fans sitting behind the bench, sources said.

There was no immediate announcement to a change in policy after the BOG meeting.

Fans have lobbed complaints at the league, expressing how they’re purchasing expensive seats with a blocked vantage point, sources said.

The Dallas Mavericks were fined a total of $175,000 throughout the 2022 playoffs for violation of bench decorum.

The BOG also approved the adoption of the play-in tournament before the postseason on a permanent basis after one-year runs in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Meanwhile, Boomers big Aron Baynes will work out for NBA teams on Saturday, less than a year after a shocking spinal injury forced him to learn how to walk again.

The 35-year-old's career looked finished when he sustained the freak injury while playing for the national team at the Tokyo Olympics, forcing him to miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season.

But after spending about six hours a day on physio exercises since the Olympics, Baynes is ready to show off his skills to NBA scouts in Las Vegas.

Baynes' agent Daniel Moldovan expects a representative from each NBA team to be in attendance during the workout.

"(He has) been back on court since February shooting and running," Moldovan told AAP.

"Just a true professional. He is and always has been a workhorse and his desire to get back to the NBA is clear given how ahead of schedule he is."

With Yahoo Sport US/AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.