NBA: League aims to speed-up pre-game rituals - ESPN report

LeBron James may want to throw that powder in the air a bit quicker come the 2012-13 NBA season. A newly-instituted rule by the league has given players just 90 seconds between when they are introduced and the opening tip. Going longer than the allowed time will result in a delay-of-game warning, reports ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "There's a 90-second countdown, it is placed on the clock," NBA spokesman Tim Frank told Windhorst. "At 30 seconds, there's a warning horn and alert by the refs. At the end, teams need to be ready to tip off or face a delay-of-game warning." Some players have elaborate pre-game sequences that they must go through, such as the aforementioned powder toss by the Miami Heat's LeBron James. Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett bangs his head on the basket support prior to the start of the game, while others have elaborate handshake rituals, such as the one popularized by former New York Knicks Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields. Retired center Shaquille O'Neal is known for elaborate pre-game skits that involve a good deal of his team. While the league moves to speed up the game, NBA players have reacted negatively to the change. Windhorst's article quotes Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant as saying, "The fans enjoy it [the rituals]," while another Heat player, Dwyane Wade, said, "There's so many rules. I can't keep up." Windhorst later tweeted out that the first victims of the rule were the Sacramento Kings, who exceeded the 90-second limit prior to the start of their preseason game Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) against the Golden State Warriors.

Kings called for delay of game tonight for violating NBA's new 90-second rule for pregame handshakes/routines according to reporters at game — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 18, 2012