What is a Technical Foul? NBA Playoff fines and suspensions explained

What Exactly is a Technical Foul?

• Ignoring Referee Warnings: After an official issues a warning, any repeat offense by a player, coach, or bench member will result in a technical foul.
  
  
• Disrespectful Communication: Arguing with referees, table officials, or opponents in a hostile manner, or using language or gestures meant to provoke the crowd or the other team.
  
  
• Taunting or Baiting Opponents: Actions such as staring down a rival or making mocking gestures after scoring can lead to a call.
  
  
• Obstructing Vision: Placing hands close to an opponent’s eyes, even defensively, is prohibited due to the risk of eye injury.
  
  
• Excessive Elbow Swinging: Players who swing elbows to clear space without contact may still get called for endangering others.
  
  
• Delaying the Game: This includes:
  

• Flopping or Faking Fouls: Dramatically exaggerating contact to deceive referees is now punishable under updated FIBA rules.
  
  
• Hanging on the Rim: A player may momentarily hold the rim after a dunk, but extended hanging, like doing a chin-up, is penalized unless it’s to prevent injury.
  
  
• Goaltending on a Free Throw: If a defender interferes with a final free throw, the point is awarded, followed by a technical foul.
  

Coaches and Technical Fouls

• Two direct technical fouls, or
  
  
• One direct and two indirect (from bench behavior), or
  
  
• Three indirect technical fouls.
  

How the penalty works

• The opposing team is awarded one free throw.
  
  
• The ball returns to the point of interruption. For example, if Team A had the ball, it remains theirs after the technical shot.
  
  
• If the infraction happens during a live ball, play is stopped immediately, but actions like successful shots or fouls before the whistle still count.
  

Clean slate for Playoff contenders

Technical Foul limits and suspensions in the Playoffs

• After 7 technical fouls, a player receives a one-game suspension.
  
  
• For every two additional technicals after that, the suspension increases by one game. So, if a player reaches 9, they miss two games.
  

Financial consequences of Technical Fouls

• Technicals 1–5: $2,000 each
  
  
• Technicals 6–10: $3,000 each
  
  
• Technicals 11–15: $4,000 each
  
  
• Technical 16: $5,000 fine + one-game suspension
  
  
• Every additional tech after 16: $5,000
  
  
• Every 2 additional techs (18, 20, etc.): $5,000 + suspension
  

• Technicals 1–2: $2,000 each
  
  
• Technicals 3–4: $3,000 each
  
  
• Technicals 5–6: $4,000 each
  
  
• Technical 7: $5,000 + one-game suspension
  
  
• Each extra tech: $5,000
  
  
• Every 2 after that: $5,000 + one-game suspension
  

Ejections and pay losses

• First ejection: $2,000 fine
  
  
• Each additional ejection: +$2,000 more than the last