Jalen Williams not a fan of this 1 polarizing NBA rule

Before the NBA completely radicalizes a principle basketball rule, they test things out in experimental environments. You’re seeing that happen this month as the league tries to see if a polarizing change can withstand the 2026 NBA Summer League.

The league will test the one-free-throw rule at the July extravaganza. Under the rule, any shooting foul that requires 1-3 free-throw attempts will instead result in a single free-throw attempt for all of the points. Standard NBA free-throw rules return during the final two minutes of regulation and entire overtime periods.

The goal is to improve game flow. The G League has played under these rules since the 2019-20 season. Usually, that’s where the NBA sees if certain rules work or not before graduating them to the next level — ala coach’s challenge.

Considering a good percentage of players who suit up in Summer League have spent time in the G League, it shouldn’t be too big of an adjustment. But before the rule has even been given a chance to play out at the quasi-NBA level, you can count one All-NBA talent as an antagonist.

Jalen Williams voiced his displeasure over the one-free-throw rule. He took to social media to suggest there are better ways to improve the game’s pace. Your average regular-season game usually takes around two-and-a-half hours to play out.

“Airball,” Williams wrote. “Want game flow improvements, but it takes 45 minutes to review calls.”

Honestly, Williams has a point. There are probably better ways to make the NBA game go by quicker if that’s the top goal — but only in an ideal world where money doesn’t make the world go round. Such as starting games on time, shortening commercial breaks, getting rid of TV timeouts. Yada, yada, yada.

But as someone who watches G League games on a decent basis, you kinda don’t even notice the one-free-throw rule after a little bit. That said, I just don’t think you can implement it in the NBA. It’s just too huge of a change. Let players earn their free-throw points. It’s part of the game.

Jalen Williams not a fan of the 1 FT rule the NBA will implement in Summer League:

“Want game flow improvements but it takes 45 minutes to review calls.” pic.twitter.com/woSy1qqld5

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) July 2, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams not a fan of this 1 polarizing NBA rule