SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/bball-out-of-bounds-last-touch

When the ball goes out of bounds, which team gets it?

The team that did not touch it last.

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  1. The team that did not touch it last ✔
  2. The team that touched it last
  3. The team on defense, always

Why: A player may not be the last to touch the ball before it goes out. The other team gets a throw-in near the spot where it went out.

Huh, didn't know that: If a throw-in sails out without anyone touching it, the ball goes back to the original throw-in spot.

The dad joke
Why did the basketball go out of bounds? It needed some personal space.
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References

Answer: The team that did not touch it last. A player may not be the last to touch the ball before it goes out. The other team gets a throw-in near the spot where it went out.

  1. NBA Official Rules, Rule 10: Violations and Penalties official.nba.com/rule-no-10-violations-and-penalties
    A player shall not be the last to touch the ball before it goes out-of-bounds.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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