Season 1 — Effective May 16, 2026

LEAGUE
RULES

TBL Constitution  ·  Hall of Fame Standard  ·  No Exceptions

01
Game Configuration
Game Settings
Quarter Length
6 Min
Per quarter — all games
Difficulty
Hall of Fame
No exceptions. HOF only.
Sliders
Default
No custom slider modifications
OVR Cap
None
Any overall rating allowed
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Mandatory Settings
All TBL games must be played on Hall of Fame difficulty with 6-minute quarters. Both parties must confirm settings before tip-off. If incorrect settings are discovered mid-game, the game must be restarted. Screenshots of the settings screen are recommended as proof.
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Sliders & Modifications
No slider modifications are permitted. Default 2K26 sliders only. Any team found using custom sliders to gain an advantage will forfeit the game and face disciplinary action from the Commissioner's Office.
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Position Flexibility
Players are assigned a primary position at signup. Players may flex one position up or down (e.g., a PG may play SG, an SF may play PF). Playing two positions away from your registered role without coach approval is prohibited. Coaches are responsible for lineup compliance.
02
Team Composition
Roster Rules
Max Roster Size
8 Players
Starting 5 + 3 bench
Min to Play
5 Players
Required to field a team
Staff per Team
GM + Coach
Both roles required
Trainer
Optional
Exempt from $10 registration
👥
Roster Limits
Each franchise may carry a maximum of 8 players — a starting five plus 3 bench players. Rosters cannot exceed 8 players at any time. If a 9th player is acquired via trade or free agency, a current roster player must be released to the waiver wire within 24 hours.
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Registration Requirement
All players must complete their application and pay the $10 one-time registration fee via Cash App ($TBLofficial) before being eligible to play. Trainers are the only role exempt from the registration fee. Unregistered players cannot participate in official games.
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Eligibility
A player must be on your official roster to play in TBL games. Using players not on your roster is an automatic forfeit. Rosters are locked the day games are scheduled. Emergency exceptions require Commissioner approval.
03
Finance & Contracts
Salary Cap
Team Salary Cap
$85M
Soft cap — can exceed in limited cases
Hard Cap
$100M
Cannot exceed under any circumstance
Contract Tier Annual Salary Limit Per Team Notes
Franchise Max $25M 1 player Superstar player — must be approved by Admin
Star Contract $15M 2 players Key rotation pieces and All-Star caliber players
Starter Contract $8M 3 players Reliable starters and core contributors
Minimum Contract $3M 2 players Bench depth and developmental players

Total at Cap: A full 8-man roster at standard tiers (1 Max + 2 Star + 3 Starter + 2 Min) = $85M exactly — at the soft cap. Teams over $85M can still operate but cannot add players via free agency until under the cap. No team may exceed $100M under any circumstance.

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Salary Assignment
Contract tiers are assigned by the GM at the time of signing, subject to Admin approval. GMs must declare a player's contract tier when adding them to the roster. GMs cannot assign a player a tier that exceeds their current cap space.
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Cap Relief
Teams can create cap space by releasing players to the waiver wire, completing trades, or mutual contract terminations. Released players clear cap space immediately once the transaction is confirmed by Admin on Discord.
04
Game Operations
Scheduling
📅
Weekly Matchup Release
The Admin team publishes each week's matchups at the start of every week in the #schedule Discord channel. Teams are responsible for seeing the schedule and reaching out to their opponents immediately.
⏰
Game Deadline
All weekly matchups must be completed within 7 days of the schedule being posted. Failure to complete a game within the window results in both teams receiving a no-show review. Extensions require Admin approval in advance.
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Communication Requirement
Teams must coordinate game time via Discord DMs or the #game-scheduling channel. At minimum, the GM or Coach must confirm the game time with the opponent. All scheduling disputes are resolved using Discord message history.
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Game Proof
The winning team must submit a screenshot or clip of the final scoreboard to the #score-reporting Discord channel within 2 hours of game completion. Stat submissions must be filed through the TBL Stats page within 24 hours.
05
Accountability
No-Show Policy
1ST
Official Warning
First no-show results in a formal written warning posted to your player record. The opponent receives a forfeit win. No suspension — but it's on file.
2ND
Forfeit + 1 Game Suspension
Second no-show results in an automatic forfeit win for your opponent and a 1-game suspension. You cannot play until the suspension is served. Suspension starts the following game day.
3RD
Forfeit + League Review
Third no-show triggers a full Commissioner's Office review. Outcome ranges from extended suspension to removal from the league. Your roster spot becomes available and your team is notified.
DROP
Removal from TBL
Continued absence after a 3rd strike or a pattern of behavior determined to be detrimental to the league results in permanent removal. No refund of the registration fee. Player is ineligible for future seasons.

Legitimate Excuses: Life happens. If you have an emergency or known conflict, contact an Admin on Discord before your game window expires. Documented excuses (with Admin confirmation) will not count as a strike. Ghosting is never excused.

06
Team Building
Trades & Transactions
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Trade Approval Process
All trades require: (1) both GMs must agree in writing via Discord, and (2) an Admin must officially approve the transaction. Trades take effect immediately upon Admin confirmation. Verbal agreements are not binding until posted in #trade-proposals.
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How to Submit a Trade
Post the proposed trade in #trade-proposals on Discord with both GMs tagging each other and confirming agreement. An Admin will review and either approve or flag for review. Approval or denial will come within 48 hours.
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Trade Veto
The Commissioner's Office reserves the right to veto any trade deemed unfair, collusive, or detrimental to league balance. Trades that clearly dump a contending team's roster for future picks without legitimate justification will be reviewed. Veto decisions are final.
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Trade Deadline
The trade deadline falls at the midpoint of the regular season. No trades are permitted after the deadline until the following offseason. Admin will announce the exact cutoff date in #announcements at least one week in advance.
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Waiver Wire
Released players enter the waiver wire and become available after a 24-hour claim window. Teams with the worst record have priority. Waiver claims are submitted in #waiver-wire on Discord. Admin processes claims in priority order.
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Free Agency
Players who clear waivers unclaimed enter the free agency pool. Any team with cap space may sign free agents. Signings must be posted in #free-agency and confirmed by Admin. Players may not sign with more than one team per season.
07
Sportsmanship
Code of Conduct
✗
Full-Court Pressing All Game
Pressing the entire game is considered unsportsmanlike and is banned in TBL. You may press to end a quarter or in late-game situations (down 10+ in the 4th). Sustained full-game pressing will result in a forfeit and conduct strike.
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Intentional Disconnecting
Purposely pulling your connection, dashboard-quitting, or triggering a disconnect to avoid a loss is treated as a forfeit. If you appear to disconnect deliberately (especially when losing), the opponent may file a complaint with evidence.
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Exploiting Glitches & Broken Plays
Known cheese plays, animation exploits, or game-breaking glitches are prohibited. If a play is commonly known as a glitch exploit (not a skill move), using it repeatedly after being warned is a conduct violation. Skill-based plays are always allowed.
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Rage Quitting
Leaving the game before the final buzzer — for any reason other than a technical emergency — is a rage quit. First offense is a warning + forfeit. Second offense triggers a suspension review. Always communicate if you need to end a game early.
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Toxic Behavior & Harassment
Trash talk is part of the game — harassment is not. Racial slurs, personal threats, doxxing, or sustained targeted harassment on Discord or in-game will result in immediate suspension pending a full conduct review by the Commissioner's Office.
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Sandbagging / Tanking
Intentionally losing games to manipulate standings, waiver priority, or draft position is prohibited. If evidence of deliberate tanking is brought to Admin, the team will be investigated and may have wins reversed or face penalties.
08
Record Keeping
Stat Submission
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Submission Requirement
Every player must submit their own stats after each game using the TBL Stats page. Required fields: gamertag, team, opponent, final score, result, and personal stats (PTS/REB/AST/STL/BLK/TOV/+/-). A screenshot link of your stat screen must be attached as proof.
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Opponent Confirmation
Stat submissions require your opponent's gamertag and a confirmation acknowledgment. Disputed stats will be reviewed against screenshot evidence. Intentionally false stat submissions will result in immediate suspension.
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Submission Deadline
Stats must be submitted within 24 hours of game completion. Late submissions may not count for that week's standings update. Repeated late submissions follow the accountability strike system below.
1–2
Missed Submissions → Warning
1 or 2 missed stat submissions results in an official warning. Your stats for those games will be listed as N/A in the league records.
3
Three Missed → 1 Game Suspension
Three missed submissions results in a 1-game suspension. You cannot play until the next game after your suspension window.
5+
Five or More → Roster Review
Five or more missed submissions triggers a full roster review. The Commissioner may release you from your team and open your roster spot to the waiver wire.
09
Post-Season
Playoff Format
Round 1
Quarterfinals
Best of 3
Seeds 1–8 face off. Top 4 division winners earn home-court advantage. Win 2 games to advance.
Round 2
Semifinals
Best of 3
Top 4 remaining teams battle for a spot in the TBL Finals. Win 2 games to advance.
Championship
TBL Finals
Best of 5
The last two standing compete for the TBL Championship. Win 3 games. One champion. No excuses.
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Playoff Seeding
The top 8 teams qualify: 4 division winners (Seeds 1–4) and the next 4 best records across all divisions (Seeds 5–8). In case of a tie, head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker, followed by divisional record, then point differential.
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Playoff Scheduling
Playoff games must be completed within 3 days of the round opening. Both teams are responsible for scheduling. Admin will impose forfeit wins if teams fail to play within the window. No deadline extensions in the playoffs.
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Home Court Advantage
The higher seed is designated as the "home" team for game setup purposes in matchups where home-court matters. The higher seed also chooses the platform if teams are cross-platform compatible.
10
Enforcement
Discipline System
⚖️
Commissioner's Authority
The Commissioner has final authority on all disciplinary matters. All decisions made by the Commissioner's Office are final and non-negotiable. Appeals may be submitted in writing to the Commissioner via Discord within 24 hours of a ruling.
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Filing a Complaint
To file a conduct complaint, DM an Admin on Discord with: your gamertag, the offender's gamertag, a description of the incident, and video or screenshot evidence. Complaints without evidence cannot be acted on. All reports are reviewed within 48 hours.
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Suspension Levels
Suspensions range from 1 game (minor violations) to full-season bans (severe violations). Suspended players cannot participate in any official TBL games, All-Star events, or playoff rounds during their suspension period.
❌
Permanent Ban
Permanent removal from TBL is reserved for repeated severe violations, doxxing, harassment campaigns, cheating, or actions that bring the league into disrepute. Permanently banned players forfeit their registration fee and may not reapply under any alternate identity.

Rule Updates: The Commissioner's Office reserves the right to amend these rules at any time. Changes will be announced in the #announcements Discord channel with at least 48 hours notice before taking effect. Continued participation in TBL constitutes acceptance of all current rules.