Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 11:55 am  |  59 responses

‘New’ NBA Traveling Rules

by Ryne Nelson

A fans were getting all ‘crabby’ last season, complaining that the referees were too lax on travel calls. Clearly, some clarification of the rules on traveling was in order.

According to ESPN, the unofficial is finally official: “The NBA has put into writing a rule allowing players on the move to gather the ball, after driving or catching it, and then take two steps.”

The lingo gets confusing, so just know this — The League isn’t changing its traveling rules, it’s merely updating an outdated rulebook. Players are allowed to take two steps once they pick-up their dribble — something that referees have been allowing for decades.

Is this a cause for worry? No. Remember, this is just a clarification of the rules. Players are brought up learning to take two (and a half) steps on the way to the cup. The pro hop wouldn’t be allowed in the pros if two steps wasn’t allowed. LeBron’s crab dribble is still illegal.

If you think players will be running to the basket like a running back, think again. It’s unofficial has just become official — two steps without a dribble, no more.

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  • LCD screen cleaner

    This comments section has lowered my respect for humanity. If you can’t read such a brief article correctly, what can you do? <<< ditto. :(

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    “Technically” that means that the stutter step is illegal too then – How many steps does a player normally take on that? What about in’n'outs? 4? 5? Maybe even as much as 8.

  • youngmuggsy

    This a rule change to officially allow two steps for a layup, something players have been doing for decades, not to help Lebron. And players have gotten away with travelling for years, don’t believe me? Watch a Pistol Pete highlight vid on youtube.

  • http://slamonline.com Dave

    ESPN has a poll on this, and of the 13 states that voted for “change” (as oppose to ‘enforce old one-step rule’) only one is above 60% for change.
    That state?
    Ohio.
    WIN.

  • flash

    stern is only doing this for lebron aint no secret about that! stern is lbj’s bitch! well anyways… players were doing it before they changed it so i guess its ok. my only concern is when they play internationally i bet theyd be calld for travelling a thousand times!

  • flash

    anything for lebron

  • la huey

    we do need education reform in this country.

  • rikson

    “we call travel when you take MORE than two steps” -> No…. you dont!

  • j

    It’s not just lebron, it’s everyone who plays the game. Even if you play pick-up basketball, ppl take an extra step or hop around. It makes no sense to allow anything more than 1.5 steps because 2 steps is equivalent to a jump (up and down)–an obvious traveling call.

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