The NBA is attempting to improve player safety by cutting down the amount of photographers around the basket stanchion, according to a memo from Rod Thorn, the league’s president of operations.
NBA adding extra space along the baseline to increase safety
There will be more space around the basket stanchion next season because the NBA is trying to improve player safety.
Chris Covatta
Acquired by the Associated Press, the memo states that the unoccupied area on either side of the stanchion -- referred to as the escape lanes -- will increase to 4 feet, an extra foot of space than perviously required. The NBA will only permit 20 cameras positions (10 on each baseline), which is down from the 40 positions occupied during the 2010-11 regular season.
The area around the stanchion has become a hotly discussed topic in the weeks since Paul George of the Indiana Pacers sustained a gruesome injury while playing in a Team USA scrimmage. George's injury was directly caused by contact with the stanchion and will force him to miss the entirety of the 2014-15 season.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding George, the changes were not inspired by the incident.
Teams were formally informed of the new policy on Tuesday, but were introduced to the concept in July, before George’s injury. Thorn also stated that the changes have been in the works for several years.
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