In an effort to keep games moving at the breakneck pace demanded by Gen Z attention spans, the NBA announced a groundbreaking Summer League rule: players now simply close their eyes and imagine making a free throw, saving precious seconds of game time and ensuring TikTok highlight editors don’t die of boredom.

Commissioner Adam Silver, who was spotted feverishly speed-walking laps around the Thomas & Mack Center to embody the spirit of the new initiative, hailed the change as “the free-market efficiency basketball desperately needs.”

“Instead of laboriously shooting the ball, players just need to exhale confidently and picture the ball swishing,” explained NBA Innovation Czar Tad Plunkett, who denied rumors that future experiments include awarding points based on players’ positive affirmations. “If they really, truly believe, referees will just nod and add a point.”

Summer League rookie Dante Holiday was initially skeptical. “At first I tried pretending,” he confessed, “but then I realized I could go back to my phone faster. Plus, my miss percentage is now technically undefined—can’t argue with that math.”

Not everyone is convinced. “If you ask me, this is a slippery slope,” said traditionalist fan Loretta Bickle, who fondly remembers the days of consecutive missed free throws. “What’s next? Playing defense by just manifesting a stop with your spirit energy?”

At press time, league officials reiterated their commitment to making games so brisk that they could be completed in the time it takes to skip a YouTube ad.