Reggie Miller Rule To Penalize Shooters Who Kick Legs At Defenders, NBA Says

The Reggie Miller rule will be emphasized this year in the NBA, penalizing shooters who kick out their legs in order to draw contact with a defender.

The practice has become popular with jump shooters trying to get an edge on defenders, but the NBA has caught on and it looking to stamp out the practice, the Boston Globe reported.

As the Globe noted:

Officials will emphasize the “Reggie Miller rule” for a shooter who kicks his legs out during jump-shot attempts to create contact and draw fouls. Officials plan to call offensive fouls on shooters who blatantly kick out their legs to initiate contact.

The Reggie Miler rule could be extra hard on shooters who try the leg-kick move, Sports Illustrated noted. Players can be called for an offensive foul if they attempt the maneuver, and are also at risk of being assessed additional penalties from the NBA, which is reviewing so-called “flopping” moves with postgame analysis. Players found guilty of flopping are subject to further penalties and even fines.

The NBA apparently has its sights on the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade for the Reggie Miller rule. In a video from earlier this year explaining its new anti-flopping rules, Wade was singled out for a play in which he kicked out his leg to draw contact from Boston Celtics player Mickael Pietrus.

The video points out:

“After releasing the jump shot, the shooter, No. 3 in the white uniform, extends his right leg attempting to draw a defensive foul. While there is marginal contact on the play, the flail and spin to the floor by the offensive player is an over-embellishment and it’s inconsistent with marginal contact.”

The play was initially ruled a defensive foul last year, but the Reggie Miller rule would mean that this NBA season, Dwyane Wade would be the one whistled for a foul.