5 NBA rule changes the Toronto Raptors need to see next season

No. 2: Security overhaul

The players have been exposed to unruly fans now that they are allowed back into the arenas. This isn’t new. Kyle Lowry was once shoved by Warriors minority investor Mark Stevens when he sat court-side.

Recently, a New York Knicks fan spat on Trae Young. A Philadelphia 76ers fan dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook, and Utah Jazz fans needed to be removed and banned indefinitely for spewing vulgar and racist comments toward Ja Morant’s family. These despicable acts put the players at risk.

In order to protect the athletes, the league needs to ensure that every time a fan crosses the line, they are charged for the crime they commit. This happened with the 21-year-old Boston Celtics fan who allegedly threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving as he exited the game and headed into the tunnel. The fan was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

If people are being held accountable for their actions, there is a better chance of having civility in NBA arenas.

There is a significant difference in behavior between the fans who boo and those who get physical. There is no place for the latter. Pressing charges where necessary isn’t the rule change needed, but it should help deter these actions from continuing to plague the NBA.

Additionally, all videos of these incidents should be released (unless it involves a minor) and the fan(s) who committed the offending act(s) should be handed a lifetime ban from all NBA games. The NBA can make examples of poor behavior. If they were to do this, they wouldn’t just be protecting the players on the court but also the experience of those in the arena.

The last thing someone wants when they get to their seat, ready to cheer, is to have an awfully behaved fan nearby ruining the atmosphere for all. A parent doesn’t want to expose their child to any form of negative behavior, especially racism and violence. Removing and banning those who do such things makes going to a basketball game more family-friendly and enjoyable for all.

The NBA needs to make a change in the way fans access the players. While not every incident is avoidable, the league can limit the proximity between the talent and their fans. Basketball is the only major sport where fans actually sit on the playing surface. Other sports have a form of physical divider that makes clear who belongs in which space.

For example, spectators are behind the boards and glass at a hockey game while the players can access the bench and ice. Major League Baseball has now extended its nets, making it even clearer that there is a distinction between the stands and field. The same sort of separation is needed in basketball.

The change that’s needed is to back NBA courtside seats up. They should be backed up far enough to put a physical barrier between the spectators and the game being played.

This added distance won’t stop people from throwing things from long distances but it does help ensure that those same fans don’t act similarly up close to the teams.

What about the players?

When Dennis Schroder hit OG Anunoby with a hard foul at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Apr 6, 2021, Anunoby responded by flipping the guard over onto his back. In response, a melee between the Raptors and Lakers ensued. As expected, that triggered security to come rushing onto the floor to separate all the players.

Normally, the involvement of security results in the desired result of de-escalating a situation and putting space between heated players. That’s not what happened in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between the Bucks and Nets. When Kevin Durant and former Raptor P.J. Tucker got into each other’s faces, a Nets security guard rushed the floor and shoved Tucker.

While that individual security guard will no longer be active near the court in future Nets games, the situation spotlights a need to protect the players. There are a few ways that this can be done and they would involve some policy changes.

The league could continue to keep security court-side, but only league-mandated and trained personnel. A better option could also be to implement severe fines on the team that employs any security guard who is deemed to have acted inappropriately.

If a heavy fine was levied onto the Nets, it would encourage them to work harder to ensure their employees are better trained. It also shows the players that they will be protected. Keeping players and fans safe like this could help prevent another Malice at the Palace or Kermit Washington/Rudy Tomjanovich incident.