If a player is fouled while attempting a shot but the shot fails, what should happen next?

When a player is fouled while attempting a shot and that shot does not go in, the rules of basketball dictate that the fouled player is awarded free throws. This is established to ensure that players can be compensated for the scoring opportunity lost due to the foul.

The rationale behind this rule is to maintain fairness in the game—if a foul disrupts a player's legitimate attempt to score, granting free throws allows the player a chance to score points that were interrupted by the foul. This rule encourages fair play and discourages defensive players from committing fouls to circumvent legitimate scoring attempts.

In situations where the foul occurs during a shooting attempt, the player is rewarded regardless of whether the shot is successful or not. This is crucial for the integrity of the game and encourages players to make legitimate shot attempts without the fear of being fouled without consequence.