NBA Will Add Section Within Traveling Rule To Define 'Gather'

[RealGM Wiretap]

The NBA Board of Governors approved new language in the NBA rule book that governs traveling violations.  The revision will not change the substance of the rule but will help eliminate the gap between the rule as written and how it has been applied in NBA games. 

“One of the most misunderstood rules in our game is how traveling is interpreted and appropriately called,” said Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations.  “Revising the language of certain areas of the rule is part of our three-pronged approach to address the uncertainty around traveling.  This approach also includes an enforcement plan to make traveling a point of emphasis for our officiating staff, along with an aggressive education plan to increase understanding of the rule by players, coaches, media and fans.”

The official NBA rule book will now have a section that formally defines the “gather,” which is a concept that has been used by the officiating staff for many years to apply the rule but was never defined in the rule book. The text of the rule will also be revised to provide additional clarity regarding how many steps a player may take after the gather occurs.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[dice]

ugh. there was nothing at all confusing about the traveling rule for many decades until the league started letting superstars get away with ****

[Lockdown504090]

ugh. there was nothing at all confusing about the traveling rule for many decades until the league started letting superstars get away with ****

Hence why we need more education.

[dice]

ugh. there was nothing at all confusing about the traveling rule for many decades until the league started letting superstars get away with ****

Hence why we need more education.

to clarify the new interpretation, maybe. many of us would prefer the league just say "we're going back to the way things were for decades"

[Jabroni Lames]

Absolute perfect photo to go with the article. Just call it the "James Harden Rule."

[SerialChiller]

I like how theres a picture of Harden with this news lol.

[LKN]

Eh - it's good to clarify it. They've been allowing A LOT of stuff that would have been traveling in past years for quite awhile now (and it's progressively become worse).

If you are going to do that you should clarify the rule.... rules change over time - this way it's clearer for everyone.

[br7knicks]

so...harden will get away with more, the same, or will finally be held to the same standard as everyone else?

[dangermouse]

If the ball is in your hands and you take two steps backward, including jumping backward and landing on one foot at a time, its a mother flipping travel even if Harden is on your jersey.

[The_Hater]

so...harden will get away with more, the same, or will finally be held to the same standard as everyone else?

Based on the FiBA definition of travel, which they changed only 2-3 years ago, what Harden does is legal. I would imagine the NBA is going to adopt similar wording so what Harden does will remain legal in their league as well.

[Pickled Prunes]

so...harden will get away with more, the same, or will finally be held to the same standard as everyone else?

Based on the FiBA definition of travel, which they changed only 2-3 years ago, what Harden does is legal. I would imagine the NBA is going to adopt similar wording so what Harden does will remain legal in their league as well.

Besides, the gather that Harden does on the perimeter is the same gather that players driving to the basket have done for years. We just aren't accustomed to seeing it beginning from a standstill and moving laterally or away from the basket. It's a tough play to call and it needed clarification.

[Pickled Prunes]

If the ball is in your hands and you take two steps backward, including jumping backward and landing on one foot at a time, its a mother flipping travel even if Harden is on your jersey.

That's true, but that isn't what is being discussed here. If you're talking about a "gather" then the ball isn't in your hands yet. The better it gets defined the easier it will be to call.

[alienpick]

Story about traveling? Let’s use Hardens picture. Haha

[Future Coach]

ugh. there was nothing at all confusing about the traveling rule for many decades until the league started letting superstars get away with ****

Hence why we need more education.

to clarify the new interpretation, maybe. many of us would prefer the league just say "we're going back to the way things were for decades"

Completely agree, it would be great if they started calling folks for traveling again.


I fear they are going to go the other direction though, & officially start allowing more steps, which sucks

[SichtingLives]

F it. Give em a gather + 3 and a half steps and by three and a half I mean 5. Plus a hop step plus a shimmy shake plus a foot slide. plus a wiggle foot plus a skanky leg.

[Rastas]

Rookies = 1 step
Players = 2 steps
Stars = 3 steps
Superstars = 4 steps

[br7knicks]

so...harden will get away with more, the same, or will finally be held to the same standard as everyone else?

Based on the FiBA definition of travel, which they changed only 2-3 years ago, what Harden does is legal. I would imagine the NBA is going to adopt similar wording so what Harden does will remain legal in their league as well.

Besides, the gather that Harden does on the perimeter is the same gather that players driving to the basket have done for years. We just aren't accustomed to seeing it beginning from a standstill and moving laterally or away from the basket. It's a tough play to call and it needed clarification.

i have yet to see any player driving to the hoop do something like this, at least not named harden or james





and if they're going to make what harden does on a nightly basis legal, why dribble at all? don't even need to put air in the ball. just make it a football at this point, and just start chucking it from anywhere you're running to

F it. Give em a gather + 3 and a half steps and by three and a half I mean 5. Plus a hop step plus a shimmy shake plus a foot slide. plus a wiggle foot plus a skanky leg.

Well, according to what's being said and discussed, harden should be allowed to do the cha Cha slide without ever having to dribble.


It's like we're talking about 2 completely different sports. Or at least with people who have never played competitive basketball. More than 3 steps is a travel. Harden and James are exempt from it, why?

[br7knicks]

Eh - it's good to clarify it. They've been allowing A LOT of stuff that would have been traveling in past years for quite awhile now (and it's progressively become worse).

If you are going to do that you should clarify the rule.... rules change over time - this way it's clearer for everyone.

Again, so, will harden finally be called for his nightly travels?

[LesGrossman]

I wonder why everyone is so focussed on harden when the guy they invented the whole "gather" for is noone else than LeBron "crab dribble" James himself. Nothing Harden does or did comes close to Bron catching a ball on the move, takign three steps before even considering the first and only dribble, and then taking four more steps - essentially crossing full court with one dribble - just to dunk against noone in particular, to the cheers and wows of the crowd, announcers and refs.

[robillionaire]

Seems like this would be a good thing, if they let everybody get away with what harden does and just run with the ball. But then they'll just start letting the superstars take 5-6 steps. May as well just do away with dribbling in the nba.