Bradley Beal got away with a ridiculously comical travel in the Wizards’ loss to the Pistons last night.
Or did officials actually make the correct non-call?
National Basketball Referees Association:
The offensive player gathers with his right foot on the ground. He then takes two legal steps, before losing control of the ball. After regaining possession, a player is allowed to regain his pivot foot and pass or shoot prior to that foot returning to the ground. This is legal. https://t.co/0hVqgHw3w7
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) February 12, 2019
Well that escalated quickly! When we talk about "losing control," we're talking about a "fumble." Below is the "fumble" rule. It is legal for a player to "fumble" (even without a defender touching the ball) then re-establish possession and his pivot foot: https://t.co/3b2EoCBXlL pic.twitter.com/ZxVIQfc9l0
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) February 12, 2019
Fumble = legal, and no travel. No fumble = travel. It's understandable for people to think that the offensive player doesn't lose control, and therefore travels. But the officials on the floor deemed it a fumble, and therefore legal. This is what makes this job so difficult. pic.twitter.com/81igLXM9MG
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) February 12, 2019
These tweets have been widely mocked, and I get it. This looks ridiculous. Even Beal finds it funny:
Look clean to me 😂😂🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/xyx0qlF3wd
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) February 12, 2019
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) February 12, 2019
But I know enough to know I don’t fully understand NBA travelling rules. They are far more complex than most people realize. This might not be a travel.
That said, if this isn’t travelling, it seems like a problem with the rules. Based on how nearly all reasonable people want the game officiated, this should be travelling.
If this is actually allowed, crafty players – looking at you, James Harden – will develop moves that involve fumbling to gain an extra step.
