Feb 5, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) walks on the court in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
In last nights 119-108 Lakers’ victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a little more than 3 minutes to play in the game, Lakers’ center Robert Sacre committed his 6th foul in the game which by rule is an automatic disqualification from the game, except he stood on the floor to play out the rest of the game. This wasn’t a brazen act of defiance against authority, but rather, necessary implementation of a rarely used NBA rule.
Per the 2013-2014 NBA Rule book, rule number 3, Section I, article A, page 15, reads as follows:
"“No team may be reduced to less than five players. If a player in the game receives his sixth personal foul and all substitutes have already been disqualified, said player shall remain in the game and shall be charged with a personal and team foul. A technical foul also shall be assessed against his team. All subsequent personal fouls, including offensive fouls, shall be treated similarly. All players who have six or more personal fouls and remain in the game shall be treated similarly.”"
If you wondered what would happen if one of the last 5 remaining players were injured, the NBA covered that scenario as well under article B of the same rule referenced above:
"“No team may be reduced to less than five players. If a player in the game receives his sixth personal foul and all substitutes have already been disqualified, said player shall remain in the game and shall be charged with a personal and team foul. A technical foul also shall be assessed against his team. All subsequent personal fouls, including offensive fouls, shall be treated similarly. All players who have six or more personal fouls and remain in the game shall be treated similarly.”"
Photo: http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors_acquire_devean_george.html
This is not the first time that this rule had to be enforced in an NBA game. Former Lakers guard, Devean George, fouled out and remained in a game back on April 14th, 2010, when playing for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors were playing in their season finale against the Portland Trailblazers and like the Lakers, came into that game decimated with injuries, having only 6 healthy players. While the Warriors dressed 8 players to meet the minimum of players necessary to play the game per NBA rules, only 6 actually were technically able and available to play. Warriors center, Chris Hunter hurt his knee in the first 5 minutes of the 1st quarter and the Warriors went with only 5 players the rest of the game.
In the bizarre twist to this game, Deveon George picks up his 6th foul with 4:47 remaining and Warriors without any other able bodies, brings the injured Chris Hunter back in to play out the game. The Warriors then sub the laboring Hunter with Rony Turief, followed by Anthony Morrow, both of which were injured and only suited up to meet the 8 player minimum. Warriors coach argued with the officials of not having able bodies to complete the game and they eventually allowed George to return. George returned at the 3:29 mark and Golden State is assessed the technical foul. Like Sacre of the Lakers, George is able to refrain from committing a 7th foul the rest of the game.
Box Score via Basketball-Reference.com
Both Sacre and George missed out on making history by committing that 7th foul. The only player in NBA history ever to commit that elusive 7th foul was Atlanta Hawks center, Cal Bowdler, in a game versus the Portland Trailblazers on November 13, 1999. In this case, it wasn’t due to running out of players, but sloppy score keeping. Bowdler committed his 6th foul, and unbeknownst to apparently everybody involved that he had fouled out, remained in the game to commit his 7th foul. The error wasn’t realized until after the game and as of today he remains the only player to have ever committed more than 6 fouls in an NBA game (in the shot clock era.)
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