What does Bonus Mean in Basketball?

Bonus in Basketball means the advantage of getting to shoot a free throw after an opponent team has committed a maximum number of fouls in a quarter or half period. In another name, the bonus is also known as “fouls to give” or “in the bonus.” Team fouls are counted whenever the player commits a foul and if it reaches 5 then the bonus is given.

Bonus shots are given regularly after 5th foul until and unless the quarter or halve ends. Though the meaning of bonus is the same, you may find a slight difference in basketball depending upon the league. Let’s have a look at the difference of bonuses in basketball according to their league.

NBA

When a team commits a maximum number of fouls in a quarter than the opponent team gets to shoot free throws for any foul committed in the court. The bonus is given after a team commits 5th foul per quarter. After the quarter ends the bonus shot also ends and recounted again in another quarter if the team again commits more than 5 fouls. The same rules are applied in WNBA.

FIBA

FIBA league is similar to those of NBA league. Even though the league involves international matches, the rule of FIBA and the NBA are the same. If a team commits 5 fouls than the opponents will get a chance to shoot for two free throws. For both shooting and non-shooting foul, an opponent will get to shoot a bonus of two free throws.

NCAA/ College basketball

The NCAA/ College games are quite different from other basketball games. The college games are more athletic and are only divided into two halves. Therefore, Only 6 fouls are given in each half of the game. The opponent team gets to shoot a free throw after a team commits 7th fouls which are commonly known as “one-on-one”. The player is rewarded for a second free throw if he makes the first one. If the team commits more than 10 foul or more than that in half than the opponent team gets to shoot free throws also known as “double-double”.

3×3

In FIBA rules in 3×3 the bonus shot is given after six fouls. FIBA 3×3 has a bit different rules for the bonus. If the team commits more than 10 foul or commits any subsequent fouls than the opponent team gets to shoot free throws and gets to play the ball from the sideline as a bonus.

BASKETBALL PENALTY/BONUS RULES

Authority	Penalty FTs after	Team fouls reset at	Reset at overtime?	Penalty free-throws at overtime after	Free-throws attempted
FIBA (5-on-5), NCAA (women)	5th team foul	Quarter	No	Two
FIBA (3×3)	6th team foul	Game	No	Two; on 10th team foul, possession also awarded to non-fouling team
NBA and WNBA Team Only	5th team foul or 2nd team foul in the last two minutes of a quarter if not yet in a penalty by then	Quarter	Yes at every overtime period	4th team foul or 2nd team foul in the last two minutes of overtime if not yet in penalty by then	Two
NBA and WNBA Players Only	6th player foul If No eligible players remaining on bench OR Player must reenter game after six fouls because last eligible player injured.	Game	No	One, includes offensive fouls If defensive foul, team penalty also applies.
NCAA (men), NFHS	7th team foul	Half	No	One (if first free-throw missed prior to tenth foul), or two (if first free-throw made prior to tenth foul, or after 10th foul)