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What makes a foul flagrant in basketball?

Unnecessary or excessive contact can make a foul flagrant.

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  1. Unnecessary or excessive contact ✔
  2. Any foul by a guard
  3. A foul called after a timeout

Why: Flagrant fouls involve contact that goes beyond normal basketball play. Unnecessary contact is a flagrant 1; unnecessary and excessive contact is a flagrant 2.

Huh, didn't know that: In the NBA, a possible flagrant foul must be checked on instant replay.

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A flagrant foul is not a good flag to plant.
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References

Answer: Unnecessary or excessive contact. Flagrant fouls involve contact that goes beyond normal basketball play. Unnecessary contact is a flagrant 1; unnecessary and excessive contact is a flagrant 2.

  1. NBA Official Rules, Rule 12: Fouls and Penalties official.nba.com/rule-no-12-fouls-and-penalties
    If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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