The NBA will be introducing two new foul rules in the 2025-26 NBA season. The first is the high-five rule, where a player cannot be hit on the hand during their shooting motion. The second is a delayed contact rule, meaning if the play is hit after his release, it can still count as a foul. Both of those news rules should give Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry some additional protection heading into the new season.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared his thoughts on the new ruleset being implemented. The veteran head coach noted how both rules appear to be designed with protecting shooters at the forefront of the thought process. Therefore, Curry, an elite sharpshooter, should be a beneficiary.
“The biggest one is the high-five rule, which the [NBA] Coaches Association was part of in collaboration with the league,” Kerr said. “The last few years, we’ve really let defenders get away with fouling jump shooters on the hand. We call everything down low, but guys have been allowed to foul jump shooters and so they’re tweaking the rules on that. They’re not allowing as much contact. The shooter is now able to follow through. The reason for the high-five rule is, the guy’s shooting, they literally would get high-fived and that’s now going to be a foul.
…The other one where you release the shot and the guy comes in and just hammers you on the wrist a full second after. That was a play that the players were just taking advantage of because of the rules and we’re not going to allow that anymore, which is great because I think there was a risk of players getting hurt, so protecting shooters seems to be the main theme.”
Curry has dealt with a significant amount of defensive pressure throughout his career. The new rules should allow him to become even more of a threat, both off the catch and off the dribble. As a result, the Warriors will become increasingly dangerous, at least until defenses adjust and find new ways to pressure his shots.
Golden State is heading into the new campaign with hopes of winning a championship. They will welcome any advantages they can find, and anything that gives Curry more opportunity to knock down shots from deep is an advantage they will take. It will be interesting to see how teams look to limit the veteran sharpshooter once the new season is underway.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: NBA’s new rules could favor Warriors’ Stephen Curry
