What action warrants an offensive foul?

An offensive foul occurs when the player with the ball makes illegal contact with a defender that affects their position or ability to defend. Driving into a stationary defender fits this scenario perfectly. In basketball, if a player with the ball initiates contact with a defender who has established position and is not moving, it is deemed an offensive foul. This is because the offensive player is violating the principle of not displacing a defender who is legally occupying their space.

The other options do not involve illegal contact or fouls: blocking a defender’s path legally is permissible, making a clean steal does not involve contact that warrants a foul, and committing a violation while dribbling pertains to infractions like double dribbling or traveling, rather than fouls related to player contact. This makes the action of driving into a stationary defender the only scenario that results in an offensive foul.