Basketball Roster Size

Basketball Team Rosters

The number of players on a roster in different basketball leagues can differ. However, in both the NBA and the NCAA, the roster holds 15 players. In basketball, there are five players on the court at a time, while there are eight players on the bench. There are also two players who are healthy scratches that do not dress, sit on the bench, or play.

Basketball Active List

The active list is a list of all players that are active on a team roster. To be active means to be able to enter the game off the bench or as a starter. Each team must have a minimum of eight and a maximum of 13 active players for each game. Unhealthy players and healthy scratches are inactive and are not on the active list.

Basketball Inactive List

The inactive list is a list of all players that are inactive on the team roster. The active list and inactive list can change every game. Healthy scratches and any players that are physically unable to play are placed on the inactive list in order to keep them on the roster while not playing them in the game quite yet. Teams can have between zero and two players on the inactive list at a time.

NBA Roster Size

In the NBA, teams have a maximum of 15 players on their rosters. 13 players can be on the benches during an NBA game, including the starters. This means there is a maximum of eight players on each bench per team. There are five players for each team on the court at a time. The five players who start the game are called the starting lineup or “starters.” Most NBA teams will only play between 8-10 players every game, so even if a player is dressed for the game, they may not play in it.

NBA Hardship Exception

In the NBA, if a team has more than four players that are seriously injured, they can apply for a hardship exception to increase the roster size to 16 players. This is rare and is used only to try and keep things somewhat fair for the team that has been plagued by injuries.

College Basketball Roster Size

In college basketball, there are 15 players on the roster, just like in the NBA. However, there are a definite 13 players that can be on the bench during a college basketball game. In the NBA, it can be 12 or 13, making them a bit different. NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams are limited to giving out 13 scholarships to players, meaning at least two players on the roster will be non-scholarship players, called “walk-ons.”

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