Basketball Rules

[MrCheckOne2]

Alright so I played basketball in high school (recently graduated so this was very recent) and i probably should know this but i dont and i dont wanna read complicated worded rules online
so i ask, the other day at the park i grabbed a board, and dribbled out to the three point line to clear the ball, i was gonna pick up my dribble when i got out there and the ball slipped from my two hands and bounced on the floor
I didnt know if i was allowed to pick it up, and just not dribble, or if i couldnt touch it at all

I ended up boxing my man out (on a ball thats on the floor lol) and told a teammate to come pick it up

If i woulda touched it, is it double dribble, or could i have just picked it up?? (No other played touched it, just me)

[impulsenine]

As an addendum, I'd like to ask what surfaces the ball has to touch to count as a pass to yourself (i.e., what Kobe did during the playoffs off the backboard).

[MrCheckOne2]

As an addendum, I'd like to ask what surfaces the ball has to touch to count as a pass to yourself (i.e., what Kobe did during the playoffs off the backboard).

I didnt watch much of the playoffs this year so i didnt see the play, but i THINK that the whole passin to yourself is like up to referees discretion if you were goin for the shot or not...i remember in a tournament in new mexico some kid from the other team shot an airball that went over the rim (parallel to the baseline) and he grabbed his own board off the air, of course, my team and i, stubborn to the old playground "cant catch your own air" rule gave the referee hell and he didnt call anything sayin that it dont matter as long as the player is attemptin a shot. It happened again later that game and same result

So i guess that off the backboard stuff must be the same, based on the intention, and up to the referees discretion

[CraigDeuce]

You can pick it up, but you can't dribble.

[b-ball forever]

If u were dribbling and then stopped and held onto the ball before losing control of it, then u can't pick it up or it counts as a double dribble.

If the ball slipped while you were still dribbling then u can always chase back after it, pick up the dribble, get back, and shoot up an airball. Z-Bo style!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4xH85iDDIs

[lilfishi22]

If the ball slipped while you were still dribbling then u can always chase back after it, pick up the dribble, get back, and shoot up an airball. Z-Bo style!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4xH85iDDIs

Infamous. That play really just summarizes Z-Bo's game.

[impulsenine]

So, for example: I attempt a complicated behind-the-back and through-the-legs dribble, it hits my shoe, and it bounces away from me, but I'm lucky enough to run after it and grab it again.

If I get it, start dribbling, and never touch it with both hands, I'm good. If I get it, but have to use both hands to grab it, I haven't double-dribbled, but I can't dribble again.

Is that correct?

Also, again, why can Kobe bounce the ball off the backboard and do an alley-oop to himself? Does the ball hitting any part of the basket/board count as a shot?

[Austin]

Yes, in that situation you can pick up the ball and dribble.

In Kobe's case, I would have called a travel on that particular play because it did not hit the rim. I believe the same person can't touch the ball if unless it hits the rim, and in that particular situation, it only hit the backboard.

[NashtyNas]

Yes, in that situation you can pick up the ball and dribble.

In Kobe's case, I would have called a travel on that particular play because it did not hit the rim. I believe the same person can't touch the ball if unless it hits the rim, and in that particular situation, it only hit the backboard.

They never call it a travel though, for some reason.

[CraigDeuce]

When a player shoots, it's a live ball for everyone but him. Once it hits the backboard and/or rim, the shooter can go get it.

[Austin]

oh i see, it just can't be an air ball, or else it's a travel.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

I don't believe that to be true. The rule as far as I understand it is up to interpretation. Basically the way it works, if it is a legitimate shot and air balls then the shooter can go and get it again. Umpires interpretation.

Therefore, if a player passes the ball off the backboard, ala Kobe or T-Mac, it SHOULD be a travel (if they need to take more than the allowed steps or jump twice), BUT the NBA is never going to call that a travel as that would make the game boring or more so, less exciting.

[impulsenine]

I don't believe that to be true. The rule as far as I understand it is up to interpretation. Basically the way it works, if it is a legitimate shot and air balls then the shooter can go and get it again. Umpires interpretation.

This is true in International ball, but NBA rules (at least, up until I last read them a few years ago) state that it's traveling if it's an airball, period.

This is why I was so surprised by Kobe's "shot" to himself.

[kane2021]

If the ball slipped while you were still dribbling then u can always chase back after it, pick up the dribble, get back, and shoot up an airball. Z-Bo style!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4xH85iDDIs

Infamous. That play really just summarizes Z-Bo's game.

[SideSwipe]

Never has it right. It has to do with "Posession" If the ref rules that the player never had posession before the ball slipped out of his hands, then the player can recover the ball with two hands and have a new posession. In your case, however, it sounds like you had clear posession of the ball, then let it slip out after having already dribbled. If I were reffing and you had touched the ball again, I would have called you for a travel. You made the right choice. Box out and get somoeone from your team to come and get the ball.

The rules of posession are some of the trickiest especially in the NBA. That is the loophole that many NBA refs use to allow extra steps on a fast-break. The rule paraphrased "A player may take one full step after taking full posession of the ball" In practice it is a full 2 plus steps, but the rule is one. Anyway, good post OP.

[SideSwipe]

On the backboard question, anytime the ball hits the backboard assembly or rim is an automatic reset of the posession.

As to the airball question, here is the rule:

i. A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.

No catching of your own airballs in the NBA. This does vary from league to league AIA or International.

[lilfishi22]

So, for example: I attempt a complicated behind-the-back and through-the-legs dribble, it hits my shoe, and it bounces away from me, but I'm lucky enough to run after it and grab it again.

If I get it, start dribbling, and never touch it with both hands, I'm good. If I get it, but have to use both hands to grab it, I haven't double-dribbled, but I can't dribble again.

Is that correct?

Also, again, why can Kobe bounce the ball off the backboard and do an alley-oop to himself? Does the ball hitting any part of the basket/board count as a shot?

I always thought the NBA changed the rules so you can't alley it to yourself and shoot again like VC and Tmac used to do.

But yes, if you grab it with both hands then hold up your dribble then you can't bounce it again. Get it back in control with one hand and you're sweet.

[MrCheckOne2]

Okay another rule question
We all know bout the hop step move, and as long as both feet land at the same time on the first jump, you're good to take off again
I swear i saw jason kidd do this once, but he jumped up to pass, his target got covered, so he landed on both feet but sprung right up and shot a jumpshot...this was bout 18 feet from the hoop or so.

So can you hop step a jumpshot? Would it be illegal if you land on both feet and just jump right up? It looks real awkward and illegal, but to me it makes sense that it's legal..is it?