Q: Watching basketball, it’s easy to see that the old rules governing walking, palming and double dribble are virtually ignored. Have the rules changed, or are the superstars simply controlling the game?
— Harris Gottlieb, Dunwoody
A: Taking too many steps without dribbling, passing or shooting the ball is called traveling (or walking), and in 2012, the NBA labeled it one of its misunderstood rules.
The NBA defined the rule in an article on NBA.com: “A player who receives the ball while moving is allowed a two count rhythm but must release the ball prior to the third step touching the floor. When ending his dribble a player may use a two count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting.”
However, in February 2014, Shaun Powell, writing for Sportsonearth.com, wrote: “Sometime around the 1980s the NBA allowed a disease to seep into the game: traveling and palming the ball. Referees began to swallow their whistle and the league office did nothing.”
Powell called for new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to enforce dribble and traveling violations.
Newsweek’s John Walters, also in 2014, pointed out plays by Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in which he took three steps toward the basket without a dribble in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Later in the article he wrote: “I have singled out James, but nearly everyone in the NBA travels with impunity.”
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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