What ruling is made when a free throw is taken by the wrong player, and the error is caught afterward?

In this scenario, the correct ruling is that the correct player gets to attempt their free throw. When a free throw is taken by the wrong player, and it is identified afterward, the rules dictate that the mistake needs to be corrected to ensure fairness in the game. This means that the free throw attempt made by the incorrect player is nullified, and the player who was supposed to shoot the free throw is then awarded the opportunity to complete the attempt.

This ruling is important because it preserves the integrity of the scoring opportunity that was intended for the correct player. Basketball rules are designed to ensure that each player receives their rightful chance, and correcting the error aligns with that objective. Addressing these mistakes helps maintain the flow and fairness of the game, while also ensuring that teams have the best chance to compete on equal footing. Other potential choices imply different consequences that do not honor the importance of having the correct player take the shot or do not follow the established protocols for correcting such errors in gameplay.