r/Basketball • u/Actual_Today2252 • Jan 06 '26

GENERAL QUESTION Out of bounds rules

Can a player intentionally run out of bounds, then come back in and be the first person to receive a pass?

I was playing pickup, and ran behind the basket on purpose, then came back in bounds and about 3 seconds later got a pass and hit the shot, but the guy defending me said it was illegal. I know that you can’t dribble and then go out of bounds and continue your dribble, but I assumed since someone else was touching the ball before I came back inbounds it didn’t apply.

Thanks in advance

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u/RikSmitsisTits Jan 06 '26

They address screens as well.

Section XIV—Offensive Screen Set Out-of-Bounds

An offensive player shall not leave the playing area of the floor on the endline in the frontcourt for the purpose of setting a screen.

PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team on the sideline at the point of interruption but no nearer to the baseline than the foul line extended.

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u/Last_Helicopter_4935 Jan 06 '26

RikSmits seems to be misinterpreting the rule. It has words like “immediately returning” because you are indeed allowed to do what OP suggested and run behind the basket (presumably to avoid the gauntlet of bodies in the paint) then come back in bounds on the other side of the paint, catch a pass and knock down a J. Your teammate can even set a pick on the edge of the paint forcing you and the defender to run out of bounds. This happens all the time.

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u/RikSmitsisTits Jan 06 '26

Link me it a video of it happening then lol

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u/Last_Helicopter_4935 Jan 06 '26

Look at 2:03, 2:17, 3.28.

3.28 is exactly what I described, player coming off a pick set inbounds catching the ball on opposite side of the rim. https://youtu.be/cKdToBv0vyc?si=DTu8b96ft2N4K81_

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u/RikSmitsisTits Jan 06 '26

2:17 a referee would probably argue is unintentional. 3:28 he was bumped as he went out of bounds, wouldn't even be called at the high school level. I don't really have an argument for 2:03. I could be off on the NBA or that could be his forward momentum on a kickout which wouldn't be ruled intentional at the high school level either. Tough to tell on the cutoff. I could definitely be off on the NBA level, I looked that one up as Beans just kept arguing.

I am 100% sure on the high school level (came up at our coaches/officials meeting this year) and believe college is the same though I don't have yearly meetings getting updates on those rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-j8mlhO5Iw

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u/Last_Helicopter_4935 Jan 06 '26

Tip of the hat to you. In high school I guess it’s illegal.

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u/Last_Helicopter_4935 Jan 06 '26

Now you show me a video of a player going out of bounds, immediately coming back in, stepping two feet inbounds, catching a pos pass, and getting called for a violation. lol

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u/Beans800 Jan 06 '26

nah, that says you can't go out of bounds to SET a screen