If a ball is in flight, how does it retain its status?

A ball in flight retains its last known status until it either touches the court or a player. This means that as long as the ball is airborne, the status it had before becoming airborne remains in effect. If it touched the court, the status would depend on whether it was in play, out of bounds, or another situation based on the last contact.

For instance, if the ball was last in the possession of a player who was in bounds before shooting, it remains in play when it leaves their hands. If it subsequently touches the floor while still in flight, that establishes its current status based on where it lands, which can clearly impact the flow of the game. Understanding this concept is critical for players and officials alike, as it influences decisions regarding play continuation and game rules around player contact and boundaries.

The other possibilities do not accurately represent how a ball in flight holds its status, as deflections do not change its last known standing until an event like a touch or contact with the court occurs. Similarly, being treated as out of bounds or beginning a new play immediately would only apply under specific circumstances that are not intrinsic to the ball's flight status.