Why do NBA players raise their hands after committing a foul?

Question

Always wondered.

Answer 1

Yes, it's to help the scorekeeper identify the player who's been whistled for the foul. And, as someone said, sometimes a non-star player (or a player who's not in foul trouble) will raise their hand when a foul is called on the star player in heavy traffic, hoping to confuse the scorekeeper into charging them with the foul rather than the star player. This rarely works.

Most stars don't raise their hands when they commit a foul. And it's not just Kobe Bryant. Michael Jordan never raised his hand either. He certainly didn't raise his hand when he shoved Bryon Russell out of the way just before hitting the game winning shot against Utah in his last Finals. Of course, there was no foul called on the play, despite the blatant shove, but he could have been a man about it.

Answer 2

To make it easy for the scorekeepers. They have to keep track of how many fouls each player has. It's not required, but it's kind of like a custom. But the ironic thing is, it's the referees who give the signal as to which player the foul goes to, so the players basically raise their hands for reason at all.

Answer 3

They do it so that game officials as well as the guilty player's team can easily know who committed the foul. It is especially important for team officials so that they'll readily know how many fouls their player has committed and whether to substitute him when necessary. Not all players though do it, especially the stars who would always whine to the refs, and it's not really a mandatory rule.

Answer 4

Because they are almost never willing to admit they committed the foul. Most players seem to think they're Gods who can do whatever they want and not get called for it (see Kobe Bryant for a prime example), so when it IS called, they can't handle it and choose to protest and whine despite the fact that it never does any good.

Answer 5

admits that he had commit the foul and sometimes the supporting cast of the team are trying to convince the referees that they committed the fould instead of the star player of the team so the star player would not get into foul trouble and get sub off by the coach

Answer 6

Most bench players want the foul called on them rather than the star player. You won't see Kobe confessing to a foul, but Farmar will gladly admit to one for him.

Answer 7

To acknowledge that they have commited the foul. Those who wouldn't simply 'cries over spilled milk' and often get the big "T".

Answer 8

to achknowledge the foul they made to give respect to the game

Answer 9

To show the ugly tatoos they all got in their arms,if they could raise their necks they would do it to show the tatoos in their necks

Answer 10

They man up and tell the truth.