What does it mean when a free throw is merited?

When a free throw is merited, it refers specifically to the situation in which a player is awarded a free throw due to a personal foul committed by an opponent during non-shooting attempts. This occurs when a player is fouled while not in the act of attempting a shot, meaning that the foul occurred during gameplay but not while the player was trying to score. As a result of the foul, the player is given the opportunity to take a single free throw to possibly score a point without the interference of defenders. This rule encourages fair play and allows players to be rewarded for their efforts while navigating through defensive strategies, ensuring that fouls do not overly disrupt the flow of the game.

Other possibilities, like taking a free throw from half-court or as a result of technical fouls, involve different rules and contexts in the game that do not pertain to the situation described in the question.