NBA approves coach's challenge on one-year trial

The NFL has a red flag to announce a request for a replay review, and now the NBA will have a twirling index finger for the 2019-20 season. The NBA approved a coach's challenge for the upcoming season on a one-year trial basis. Teams get just one challenge per game, even if it is a successful challenge, although plays still will be reviewed without the need for a challenge in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime.

A coach's challenge has been used in the G-League the past two seasons and currently is being used in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A team must have a timeout in order to challenge a play with the coach requesting the challenge by putting a finger in the air and rotating it in a circle. If a team requests a challenge without a timeout, a technical foul will be called, and the play will not be reviewed.

Plays that can be reviewed include personal fouls called on a team, basket interference, goaltending, and a ball out of bounds. The NBA has also upgraded its procedures to verify a 2- or 3-point basket in a timely fashion, as well as for a shot-clock violation. A courtside administrator will be on hand at every game to speed up communication with replay officials at NBA offices in Secaucus, N.J.