In basketball, how many seconds are on the NBA shot clock?

The NBA shot clock gives a team 24 seconds to attempt a field goal. If the team fails to make a qualifying shot before the clock reaches zero, officials call a shot-clock violation and award possession to the opponent.

The rule was introduced to stop stalling, a tactic in which teams held the ball for long periods after taking a lead. Before the shot clock, games could become extremely low-scoring and difficult to watch. The NBA adopted the 24-second limit for the 1954–55 season.

The number came from a practical calculation associated with Danny Biasone, owner of the Syracuse Nationals, and general manager Leo Ferris. They estimated 120 shots in a 48-minute game: 2,880 seconds divided by 120 attempts equals 24 seconds per shot.

The 24-second figure is specific to the NBA and several other professional competitions. A common mix-up is assuming every basketball league uses it: FIBA switched from 30 to 24 seconds in 2000, while NCAA basketball uses a 30-second clock. The WNBA adopted 24 seconds in 2006.