In basketball, a “bonus” refers to a situation in which a team is awarded free throws due to the opposing team committing a certain number of fouls.
In most leagues, a team enters the bonus when the opponent has committed a set number of team fouls within a quarter or half. For example, in the NBA, when a team accumulates 4 team fouls in a quarter, the opposing team enters the bonus, meaning any subsequent foul (except offensive fouls) will result in free throws for the fouled player.
There are two types of bonuses:
1. Team Bonus: This occurs when the opposing team has committed enough fouls to trigger free throws for the fouled player. In the NBA, this happens after the 4th team foul in a quarter.
2. Individual Bonus: This usually refers to a player who has reached a certain number of personal fouls (typically 5 or 6, depending on the league), and they are no longer eligible to play for the remainder of the game or until they are substituted.
In the bonus situation, the fouled player is awarded two free throws, regardless of the type of foul (unless it’s an offensive foul). This rule is designed to penalize teams for excessive fouling and to encourage cleaner play.
