The people who complain about traveling in the NBA usually complain about a specific type of play: the gather step. Everyone knows and accepts that you can take two steps before passing or releasing the ball, but the NBA kind of, sort of gives you a third step — any strides you take while still in the process of catching the ball don’t count as one of your two.
FIBA’s rule change has American players super excited for hoops overseas
The new FIBA traveling rule will align with the NBA’s rule, which is a welcome change for American players.
Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
Most leagues below the NBA are a little more strict about that rule. You can disagree with the NBA’s incredibly liberal interpretation of the rule, but you’re probably on the minority side — the NBA’s popularity keeps increasing, and virtually no fans of the sport actually complain about that.
Now FIBA — the International Basketball Federation that governs a majority of the European professional leagues — has adopted the same traveling rules as the NBA. Here are the specifics, as provided by FIBA. (h/t to Sportando)
Purpose: To have a common worldwide traveling rule that better reflects the actions on the court.
New wording:
- While moving and having one foot on the floor while catching the ball or ending a dribble the next foot or feet to touch the floor is Step 1 and will become the pivot foot.
- Please refer to the additional material on the new travelling rule which is included in a separate presentation.
That’s all incredibly niche and probably not extremely pertinent to your everyday life, but there is a certain subset of people who are absolutely thrilled with this news: American basketball players who play in Europe. Case in point:
WE AMERICANS ARE THE REAL PEOPLE WHO MATTER AND IT’S ABOUT TIME EUROPE BENT TO OUR RULES.
OK, no, I’m kidding. But those players seem really happy about the new rule, and I’m happy for them.
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