What does the shot clock operator do?

The shot clock operator runs the shot clock (Article 51). In short, the operator:

• Starts or restarts the clock when a team gains control of a live ball on the court, or when a throw-in ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court.
• Stops without resetting in the throw-in situations where the same team keeps the ball (see the question on stops and switching off).
• Resets to 24 or 14 seconds in the situations listed in Articles 51.3 and 51.4.
• Switches the clock off when the ball becomes dead and the game clock is stopped in any quarter or overtime, there is a new control of the ball for either team, and fewer than 14 seconds are on the game clock.

The shot clock operator is one of the four table officials, together with the scorer, assistant scorer and timer (Article 46.2).

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 46 and 51.