SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/bball-three-seconds-in-the-lane
How long may an offensive player stay in the free throw lane while their team has the ball?
No more than 3 seconds.
- 3 seconds ✔
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
Why: An offensive player may not stay in the lane, also called the paint, for more than 3 seconds while their team controls the ball in the frontcourt. Breaking it gives the other team the ball.
Huh, didn't know that: The count stops if the player is in the act of shooting when time runs out.
Why did the center bring a stopwatch into the paint? He kept losing track after three seconds.
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References
Answer: 3 seconds. An offensive player may not stay in the lane, also called the paint, for more than 3 seconds while their team controls the ball in the frontcourt. Breaking it gives the other team the ball.
- NBA Official Rules, Rule 10: Violations and Penalties official.nba.com/rule-no-10-violations-and-penalties
An offensive player shall not remain for more than three seconds in that part of his free throw lane
Checked 2026-10-12.
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