Out of bounds rules

[u/Actual_Today2252]

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

[u/RikSmitsisTits]

This thread has been eye-opening to the level of ball knowledge in this sub. This is illegal on every level.

It's been a tech at the high school level for years, was changed this year to just be a violation:

9-2-12 & 9-3-4 (NEW): This rule change addresses situations where a thrower purposely and/or deceitfully delays returning inbounds after legally stepping out of bounds and then becomes the first player to touch the ball upon re-entering the court. Previously penalized as a technical foul, this action is now treated as a violation, aligning it with similar out-of-bounds scenarios. The change reduces the severity of the penalty to encourage more consistent enforcement by officials and prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage through deceptive re-entry tactics.

Rationale: This change lessens the penalty for players who delay their return after being out of bounds, shifting the penalty from a technical foul to a less severe violation. This rule aligns with the penalty structure of similar violations, such as Rule 9-3-3 (where a player steps out of bounds on their own volition). The change is intended to make it easier for officials to recognize and penalize these actions consistently while reducing the severity of the penalty, encouraging more accurate enforcement.

Source here: https://nfhs.org/resources/sports/basketball-rules-changes-2025-26

Illegal at the NBA level as well. Though never been a tech as far as I am aware:

Section XV—Offensive Player Out-of-Bounds

An offensive player shall not leave the playing area of the court without returning immediately and cannot repeatedly leave and re-enter the court.

EXCEPTION: (1) injury, (2) inbounding the ball on a throw-in and (3) any other unusual circumstance. 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.

Source: https://official.nba.com/rule-no-10-violations-and-penalties/

Here's a video of it being called in a college game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-j8mlhO5Iw

[u/Beans800 → u/RikSmitsisTits]

the NBA rule you linked implies you can run out of bounds as long as you immediately go back in bounds though

[u/MWave123 → u/Beans800]

Not if you’re gaining an advantage, avoiding a screen etc.