James Harden Finally Caught - But Was It The Right Call?

Over the weekend, James Harden got called for a travel in the open court. Most felt vindicated, but was it really a travel by the letter of the law? Coach Nick and Devin Williams ( / officialshiftteamhq ) break down the Live Dribble and how it affects the traveling violation.
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[@zombieslayer2225]

"As long as the ball is in the air, you can take as many steps as you want."-Giannis Antetokounmpo

[@somerandomguy4130]

I Am you can't carry a ball if you stop dribbling it would be a gather

[@jonathanbatista3781]

All Giannis needs is one step anyway

[@waldegg9171]

Or “as long as you DONT carry the ball on your hand or hold it with two hands ,u can take as many steps as you can” Me.

[@hannesmuller9991]

1:44 minutes: that's a travel. He puts his hand under the ball.

[@quarantineddeku7368]

Jonathan Batista fax man all he need to do is step once and he can dunk from full court

[@supaflylob]

If i do this in pickup at the gym theyd never let me play

[@MrVinogotti]

True lol

[@WillToNihilsm]

@@MrVinogotti Or in highschool, or college, or FIBA, or EUROleague.

[@ericthibodeau6821]

@@WillToNihilsm nope it works in fiba

[@bhr788]

There's a reason those people are playing pickup at the local YMCA, lol

[@clawer626]

That's just a reality of casual play. You need a pro ref, one that makes a living off it and not just someone who does it for fun, to even understand what exactly is happening.

[@Chris-eo1bp]

man you could lose friends over this argument lmao.

[@Da_Real_llIusion]

IFKR * Cries *

[@Chris-eo1bp]

@@Da_Real_llIusion lmao its like you love em but when you breal that ankle boi. The savage anima element in people comes out quick

[@d-watshoustonsfinest7363]

lmao!!!! Bro...#Truestatement.

[@d-watshoustonsfinest7363]

@@adamjohnson4975 No. You just thought it was smart to psychoanalyse a sarcastic joke and had no idea how immature and stupid it would make you look.

[@Chris-eo1bp]

@@d-watshoustonsfinest7363 lol he did

[@dr.christian8461]

"As long as both your feet are in the air, you can take as many steps as you want." -Jordan-

[@gwanime4929]

Lol, underrated comment

[@bobbyosborne2375]

MJ FOREVER GOAT

[@worthy1058]

~Jordan~

[@worthy1058]

-Jordan-

[@worthy1058]

**Jordan**

[@toxicmelody6228]

In the hood they'll just say "This isn't the NBA/2k"

[@be4unvme]

lol i called a travel on a black guy once, he threaten my life

[@Rangelong]

Ain’t no more hood basketball. No one hoops outside anymore.

[@jamarjones3816]

Luis Capellan not funny

[@unknownknowns11years]

Jason Cross u must not be a hooper then😂 everyone hoops anywhere

[@drewelric118]

@@jamarjones3816 Its probably not a joke

[@seansuprem]

i think the main disagreement is in what is/should be considered a gather

[@WillToNihilsm]

He brought the ball into his body before taking the step. In my, and any rational humans, opinion, he took that dribble knowing he would gather it, yet somehow because he gathers with the opposite hand it doesn't count? Fuck off NBA that is the worst justification I have ever heard.

[@MuttonErase]

@@WillToNihilsm nah its in front of him but you cant tell from that angle. (otherwise yes it would be a travel) a similar thing happened with jeremy lin where from the tv camera angle it looked like he ended his dribble and then took 4 steps but he actually dribbled in between you just couldnt see it cuz it was blocked

[@WillToNihilsm]

@@eciohc75 what the fuck are you talking about?

[@jasoncall3731]

WillToNihilsm Until the right hand touched the ball, he could have legally continued the dribble. The gather must have occurred at that moment.

[@VArsovski10]

@@jasoncall3731 Yeah, like whirl the ball in his left hand for like 2.5 steps more THAT is what happened in one of the recent no-calls, dude took a very bad reception of a pass and was running with it whirling in his palm for 2-3 steps before FINALLY gathering it and making a 2 step jump layup lol

[@askew1468]

They’d just hit me with the “this ain’t the NBA you harden wannabe” in pickups

[@MrDumesday]

Yeah. The same people in pickup games that would call this traveling are the ones that would get mad when someone calls foul lol.

[@augustgreig9420]

I was doing this 23 years ago, and every now and then, some people would get really mad when I kept beating them with the move. Basically, I learned from practicing Tai Chi that slow can beat fast, so where most people would just try to take their two steps and get to the rim, I'd take mine slower with a change of direction and shot fake during my two steps, which is completely legal. But some people would swear it wasn't. These are the same type of people who think en passant is illegal in chess.

[@flonkas]

@@augustgreig9420 the downside is you gotta do that ugly ass move in public

[@unaialday3902]

I love how players are analyzing and finding “holes” in the rule book (specially harden) to maximize advantages

[@zzig4447]

Unai Alday almost all pros in any kind of sports do this, hell even pros on esports games looks for bugs in game and take advantage of it lol

[@unaialday3902]

Zzig yep, but we’re in the peak b-ball wise, and I still love it

[@SupremeSupport]

It's not exactly a "hole" just a better understanding of the rule book. That's why other nba stars try to replicate it, they just haven't practiced it nearly enough. If you understand the rules better and can effectively use them to your advantage, that's how the game is supposed to be played.

[@joshsimi8680]

More like professionals not even knowing the rules. Sad

[@DragonDyce]

u must admit that move harden did on 3 defenders with literally no time to think by throwing the ball out farther ahead of him is just amazing in my opinion if it is actually legal

[@haonanzhang6759]

Harden's rhythm control is on another level, way above the refs at least.

[@jamarjones3816]

Clarkson Zhang I mean I could understand if the refs get travel calls wrong cuz I don’t think I would know if that’s a travel or not with out that slow motion camera

[@jordancromwell]

No travel called on HarChoke its frustrating

[@jamarjones3816]

Wait so if I only have one hand on the ball it’s not a travel till I put my other hand on the ball so What about one handed euro steps this is confusing And what about the palming the ball and making look like your about to dribble again but instead going to the rack

[@haonanzhang6759]

@@jamarjones3816 Yeah me too. Refs need to adapt to harden's pace and get used to it.

[@oakinw8361]

@T0PSECRET You cant carry when you're running with the ball.

[@Grimothey]

Man ik James harden gets a lot of hate but sometimes u gotta just sit back and appreciate his creativity

[@11dubs30]

Poor Harden. Poor, poor li'tle 'Arden.

[@WillToNihilsm]

Maybe if he actually could get a ring people wouldn't clown his sorry ass.

[@ericthibodeau6821]

@@WillToNihilsm maybe if his team was good they would win

[@comppp7612]

WillToNihilsm stfu lmaooo ur nerd ass prob don’t even know how to play basketball irl or rules

[@dwarfings]

WillToNihilsm shut the fuck up you look like a nerd. “How to win online arguments” headass

[@uonmist]

James Harden rlly be finessing the system 😂

[@chrisculpert311]

What brilliant angles to show the differential perspectives! Great video as usual!!!

[@lustearnz]

It just looks wrong because he takes 1 dribble since the half court line. Like you said he times it perfects

[@1vaultdweller]

You can take only 1 dribble (to initiate movement with ball) to cover entire court if you are fast enough

[@Fahim321]

Talking heads call him a magician for a reason

[@chickenmanoktae]

Is this legal in FIBA rules?

[@williamblake7386]

if it looks like bullshit change the rule. what do we want, a bullshit basketball? anyway, my obsession with nba refs will end only if they stopped allow 1. coaches and bench walking the court during game time. bullshit basketball . 2. jumping into defender and throw away the ball. often, not even attacking the basket lol. its a freaking flop. bullshit again. they said "he found a contact". of course he found. in a contact game the easiest thing to do. i want harden get a ring. with his name on it: james "the disgrace" harden.

[@randyman67789]

@T0PSECRET it's borderline impossible for you to tell when someone like Giannis' is palming the ball because his hands are so large and he is so quick. That's why the experienced ref said he looks for the hand to be completely under the ball.

[@tsujimasen]

0 step once he has two hands on the ball, then 1 and 2. Looks wonky, seems legit when you slow it down. James Harden is the only player that makes 2 legit steps look like 10 illegal steps.

[@Spoondota]

tsujimasen that my friend is called foot work

[@etm3398]

yah it takes two hands to gather. one hand palming the ball is not a gather. so, that step after his left hand started holding the ball is a zero step.

[@mpetkovic26]

@@etm3398 But it is check the rules if you palm the ball and continue dribble it's carrying violation, palming the ball counts as putting ball to rest

[@MuttonErase]

@Albert C the way he does it he could technically still dribble after the first "step back", but like in the video its only legal because of when he ends his dribble. Sometimes he messes it up tho.

[@hoanghale2671]

Yes totally agree. His double stepback is him trying to do palm the ball on the side for a split second while moving both his feet. Extremely hard to do and easy to mess up

[@toad7395]

Damn didnt know harden had this much dedication to pushing the boundaries of what travel is

[@itsrtvbaby]

😂

[@itsrtvbaby]

@Yahudrick R Raj-Indra that's why he said pushing the boundaries. It means he's super close to traveling but he's still not actually doing it

[@lynnstewart1981]

Or what it isn’t according to the rule. Don’t hate.

[@Riggpoppa]

Thanks for the break down!

[@CQBinsanity]

A guy like Harden who isn't the most athletic needs to master things like this, there is a reason he's so hard to guard, it's not because he breaks the rules (for the most part, but then again show me any player that doesn't) but because he knows exactly to maximize his game based off of the rules. Dude is brilliant in that regard. It's very similar to how he decelerates himself when he drives, I can't think of anyone that can slow down so quickly like he can

[@jythewondaaa1860]

CQBinsanity he is not hard to guard. He flops. Simple as that. Tougher defense, he just flops more. He avg. like 14 fta in pre-season. Smh. I know you can agree his flopping is he’s best move to the basket!

[@CQBinsanity]

@@jythewondaaa1860 haha, sure buddy

[@ReidoFutebol98]

@@jythewondaaa1860 Ask Lonzo who is the most guard to defend? Tip: ends with Harden.

[@jythewondaaa1860]

P. Ok. I’ll give Harden a little credit because he is a left hand player. But did you see what Kendrick Nunn did to Harden a couple days ago. Undrafted free agent dropped 40. Had Harden on skates!!!! Guess what Kendrick Nunn also a lefty. Nunn had 40 with only 6fta, something Harden could never do. BTW Zach LaVine better moves and harder to guard than Harden. DeMar DeRozen better moves and harder to guard than Harden. What did Harden do with that rookie last year from the Timberwolves, got his ass embarrassed by Josh Okogie. Go watch those clips. Without flopping Harden is might not be a top 10 SG in the NBA.

[@tylerr3740]

JY The Wondaaa Yep he is not hard to guard, now let’s see you stop him lmao.

[@PullThatUpJamie]

It’s crazy how little people know about this game of basketball. IG comment section refs are a disease

[@noahamankwaah9802]

IG comment section in general

[@mrmaker92]

YungJ well said

[@WillToNihilsm]

Funny how you don't know what you are talking about. In any other league, any other player, that is a travel

[@WillToNihilsm]

Really? Because the rule is vague, misinterpret able, and fucking rock stupid.

[@keyton1928]

WillToNihilsm hey we found a dummy dumb. We are talking about the nba here. So those other leagues don’t matter at all. Get lost and stop being stupid. That was the dumbest crap I’ve read in a long time.

[@vb6427]

Love it. Very well explained and fun to watch!

[@johnieljudahcenabre6556]

So if I play with one hand it’s almost impossible for me to travel.

[@brandonsmith9815]

Brilliant

[@Caleb-ww2wl]

So long as your hand never goes under the ball

[@johnieljudahcenabre6556]

Caleb ya i thought so, if you have big hands, you can palm the ball.

[@adamfearon7296]

If you palm the ball the it can be called as a travel

[@Trllz]

@@adamfearon7296 then either lick your fingers to make it sticky and hold the ball or shove your fingers into the ball.

[@MrE_]

The ref's mic is a bit scratchy

[@bballbreakdown]

I’m throwing out my wireless mics and getting new ones 🤦‍♀️

[@idkwhoiam3676]

@@bballbreakdown which one do u have?

[@willhooke]

@@bballbreakdown Ref was a little scratchy in another vid as well. Yet Dev wasn't. Thank you for updating your gear - makes it better👍

[@ShamGam3]

Because of hiw whistle maybe

[@kobeplays798]

Yah i thought it was just me 😂

[@KingWayne714]

this brings me back to HS BBall practice, a drill where we had to get from one end of the court to the other in 3 dribbles. It almost felt like a trick until we learned its about maximizing your steps and covering ground in as few dribbles as possible.

[@seanmike95]

KingWayne714 you mean two dribbles

[@davegamesgames42]

sean williams he could have done a different drill than you

[@ZxChrono]

sean williams Naw it’s 3.

[@hofniamwaalwa3724]

Very educative video 🙏🙏

[@malachimackay7081]

You show it in slow motion, but he drags his foot on the ground as he is taking his last step. Would this not make it a travel?

[@sithlordsf]

That's what I see, actually dragging his pivot foot

[@reviewsandprojects]

Yep agreed. Pivot foot drag.

[@SpicyOliv]

I asked the same thing. I wonder if that's why the guy from behind makes the call, because he can see the pivot foot drag? Still no response, and it just leaves me holding this bag of confusion.

[@tking9k988]

If you are going up for a shot or layup the pivot foot is aloud to move or be dragged, it can’t be moved or dragged to get better position if it is already planted.

[@SpicyOliv]

@@tking9k988 I actually tagged him on Twitter and he and Nunn gave a good answer that was helpful. If I recall, it was that on the layup you're allowed to drag it. Can't remember the exact wording. On a shot, I don't think so, I recall Lowry getting called for it a few games ago when he shuffled a pivot foot, but he wasn't moving forward like that.

[@jglitchy5577]

Can’t believe how hard people try to downplay this mans game it’s unbelievable 😂

[@claypro5046]

Haters

[@Janinho897]

are you honestly saying this after this play? James Harden has a habit of playing unbasketball-ish ... that's what people don't like about him. and this shit here is an example of that. if this video should be anything to you, than it should be an evidence on which you go: "oh yeah, i see how people don't like this dude's style."

[@ninja3902]

@@Janinho897 what do you mean? isnt this a legal play

[@jordancromwell]

Game? You mean traveling, flooping, and choking? Nobody's downplaying that my dude 😂

[@jordancromwell]

@@Janinho897 Yep

[@HenryBabcock]

Great stuff, Coach. There is so much confusion around this rule. (I was once told I had traveled because I passed the ball after 2 steps instead of shooting. I was like "huh I never knew that was a rule.") Harden and Giannis push the limits as they should as competitors. I point my bball guys to your videos. Your videos like this really help clear things up. Only criticism I have: I wanted the great music to keep playing throughout the whole video! jk.. sorta.

[@syddenna6437]

This definitely underrated video. Thank you.

[@douglasquaid1711]

The thing is, when you say "His right foot is on the ground" @2:55 he's actually sneaking a 3rd step in by having his foot in the air as he "gathers". This stuff was never allowed back in the day, today it's ok.

[@personsrule9857]

Douglas Quaid ok boomer

[@LtBrown1956]

doug the problem with this crap is it makes the game more of an exhibition than a game with equal rules for equal chance of winning ....globetrotters are fun to watch but it is NOT a basketball game!!!

[@sandman1133]

@@LtBrown1956 nobody is excluding other players from practicing this.

[@LtBrown1956]

@@sandman1133 you cant possibly asserting that all players are officiated the same???

[@sandman1133]

@@LtBrown1956 first you say rules now it's officiating. Is it a new thing that star players get preferential treatment? Did Harden start that trend too?

[@rs660alec3]

Watching this in slow motion is magical, Harden is so good he’s honestly broken the new NBA on an Individual level. He’s abuses everything these new rules allow and I love it.

[@IYPITWL]

alec polk new rules are for clarity, not changing the game.

[@rs660alec3]

IYPITWL umm what? Hand Checking, International fouls?? New rules create a less physical game for the defense to pressure offense with. The defenders literally used to be able to push on the ball handler with their hands the whole time. Look up hand checking because you were definitely born after 2000. Today you can’t even stand too close to someone taking a jumpshot 😂😂🤦‍♂️

[@jamarjones3816]

There’s only 13 rules what new rules lol

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

what new rules??

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

@@rs660alec3 hand checking was made illegal in 1979, were you alive then dumbass? Illegal defense was what changed in 99 after Jordan retired...they waited to change it because Jordan abused the fuck out of illegal defense and they didn't want Jordan to change his game. Offensive scoring rates all plummeted after they got rid of illegal defense because they could finally do proper help defense and play zone when necessary. So you're very very wrong, today defenses are tougher than they were in the 90s and they actually play more physical. The "Jordan Rules" that the badboys used is how a player like Harden gets guarded every single possession, which is why he does all this extra stuff to out maneuver the defense

[@neoxsupreme]

I'm glad he clarified this. I also thought that it was a bogus call watching the replay during the game.

[@Jendacake]

Imagine tryna explain this at the local gym😂.

[@sav88]

I honestly came cause I thought this was going to be abt that traveling step back. But still a banger vid 🔥🔥

[@alliejr]

Your argument is correct, but you're ignoring the _facts_ of _this_ particular play. In this play, there is an issue with Harden's left-foot pivot, after the zero-step gather. Harden clearly _DRAGS_ the left foot as he passes through the lane. He establishes the left foot pivot, never lifts the left toe during the move, but does _drag_ it through the lane. That's a travel. Further, one can often make an argument that a step is actually a jump. There is a fine line if one is gonna make such a judgment, but at some point, one cannot allow one-footed jumps to be steps.

[@rettahill1213]

You're confusing yourself honestly.. a drag is NOT a step even if it was when his foot was dragging(which is questionable because his toe didn't point back nor bend so there's no proof to say.) it's still part of his legal move now if the foot is FLAT as if he's taking a step or jumping, then that's a travel. You know you can look these rules up right and they even have ppl that break them down for the ones that don't understand.

[@alliejr]

@@rettahill1213 I am not arguing that a drag is a step. But I am arguing that dragging a pivot foot is a travel (it is). In all cases, on all legal moves, step 1 is the pivot, step 2 is allowed, but the pivot cannot legally be dragged as I believe Harden does in this example. The pivot can be lifted, but it cannot be put back down before a pass or shot. In my opinion (around 2:40 of this video), Harden drags his left toe along the lane-- travel.

[@tylerr3740]

Yeah fair point.

[@lankstadiscs]

Really interesting catch, I wonder if that is what the ref saw that led to the call.. agreed you can’t let that toe touch the ground. A step is a step and that is contact.

[@zvanover11]

The problem is that every referee before college level will call that a travel and so you are taught against doing that at elementary and high school levels. So people get mad. So high school refs have it wrong? Or do the rules actually change?

[@TheHaas123]

zvanover11 high school refs dont have the training to notice it. It LOOKS wrong but when you look into it, it’s legit.

[@i077]

Yes, if a high school ref calls this a travel he's wrong, simple as that. The gathering step is not the first step, is the step before the first step. Ask any ref or any coach, they will tell you the same thing.

[@Noles4life77]

i077 I’m actually a licensed high school ref. At least in Ohio, their is no gather step rule. Also, you are taught if something looks wrong, call it, because if you don’t, you’re most likely going to cause hostility between you and the opposing coach/crowd

[@AnemosFPV]

zvanover11 no, college, high school and euro has is right. NBA is just flash and show they don’t care about basketball it’s just about filling up the seats with people. That’s why they never call travel on a dunk while they do it in Europe

[@thebiggestgamer]

@@AnemosFPV How is the NBA wrong?

[@Mulppy]

Probably the best video I have see explaining this

[@chrisgreen5670]

Great demo from various aspects (verbal analysis, visual aspect from reps, and demo by player), you 3 guys should do more breakdowns of the game (taking a charge offensively and defensively, goaltending, basic dribbling), Can NEVER be too fundamentally sound!

[@RedisNotaFlavor]

you guys hate Harden because he knows the rules.

[@WHOMATTERTI]

RedisNotaFlavor facts

[@ArcadianGenesis]

I don't like him because he chokes in the playoffs. And he often gives piss-poor effort on D.

[@PropiaPersona]

Its like the government hates when you know the actual laws

[@ericthibodeau6821]

@@ArcadianGenesis he averaged 36 against the warriors in the playoffs and was second in steals and number 1 in delflections last year

[@ArcadianGenesis]

@@ericthibodeau6821 He had the numbers, but he's notoriously come up short when he was needed most. Usually at the end of a close game. Because he's very predictable in those situations. Remember the time he got rejected by 37-yo Manu? 😄

[@ComicBookKing]

The nba needs to share this on tv so everyone can learn something and stop being instagram refs

[@stormsurge1850]

Tee Snacks Rules are rules buddy. If you change them, harden will find another way to exploit it. You losers sitting at home don’t get an opinion, no one gives a shit what you think.

[@45sebastian15]

@Tee Snacks but again....its the NBA🤷🏽‍♀️

[@stormsurge1850]

@Tee Snacks Okay buddy, if you've been playing ball for 20 years only makes it more embarrassing for you. You know what, you're right, you're a basketball genius, right? Because you act like you know more than NBA refs and other people that do this for a living. Gtfoh, stop acting like you know what the fuck you're talking about. "read the rules" smfh I guess you're illiterate too.

[@HlM.]

Tee Snacks kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYvYZpx7bN6lhqs

[@HlM.]

Tee Snacks well Australia and Europe follow these rules

[@jjuzimackin8941]

Thats awesome you and devin together

[@elmerwilber3308]

LOVE the uncut

[@HiddenCuts88]

I need to show some people this video. I literally have to tone down my euro step just avoid any speculation. Thanks for this video lol

[@alessandroludovicostresa860]

4:40 "Let's talk about live dribble" First three dribble puts the hand under the ball. GOAT

[@alessandroludovicostresa860]

@@xenocloud00 i been hooping til i left two knees on the ground.

[@alessandroludovicostresa860]

@@xenocloud00 2 acl.surgery operations!

[@justincolon5628]

There's gonna be a lot of fights on the blacktop over this.

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

*just give James Harden a passport already* 🤣 ✈️

[@arisbendanillo1425]

:) to finals!!:)

[@devanshudwivedi5875]

WOW!!!!!!!! SO FUNNY!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOLOLOL!!!ROFL!!!!. dickhead

[@lukejackson9250]

Still feel like you guys missed the most confounding situation: Whilst my hand is on top of the ball and the dribble is live, I take many stutter steps and then without a dribble I gather the ball and then take my 0, 1 and 2 step. Travel? In my eyes this is the situation that seems to break the game of basketball. I hope I’m explaining this clearly.

[@dejuanma2367]

But the fact that you take many stutter steps doesn’t mean you have no dribble after, you can keep dribbling meanwhile you don’t catch the ball with two hands or put your hand behind the ball, in that moment you lose the dribble. So if you throw the ball in front like harden did and make a first step (0 step) and at the end or while you are doing it you catch the ball with two hands, that is still considered like a step or mid step on the dribble, and then you have your two steps off the dribble to do.

[@arich151]

Luke Jackson this is exactly what I’m saying

[@SuperSwag900]

Yea you did.... answer is it doesnt matter cuz of the first demo they showed. If he had his hand on top of the ball and did all the baby steps no travel. Also he throws the ball ahead (remember the ref says its still your possession even if its ahead of you) and takes a bunch of steps THEN gathers the ball and takes 2 steps all legal. Hand on the ball doesnt matter its when you end your dribble in between you can do whatever, hop, skip,jump,10000 steps, etc.... hope i explained that well

[@Devastish]

I think i know what you mean, and it gets me too. When your hand is on top of the ball, you have the option to dribble or grab it. When a player hesitates and then continues to dribble, it looks fine, he's just dribbling. But when they hesitate and then end the dribble, it just looks wrong. When I'm looking at Harden or Giannis doing a Euro-step, intellectually I know that the player has not yet made a decision to pick the ball up when the hand is on top, but if they do make that choice, it looks like they intended to pick it up from the beginning, and so it appears to be a travel. I think this is because the player has the OPTION to dribble or pick up, and until he makes the choice by putting a hand under the ball or grabbing it with two hands, the refs can't tell what he's going to do, so the ball stays live. The timing of the decision after taking a few steps is what trips me up.

[@jasoncall3731]

But *how many* stutter steps can you humanly take during that last dribble, even if it's a crazy looking high dribble? And what will eight stutter steps do for you?

[@LeighMacArthur]

Thanks for breaking it down step by step and frame by frame. It makes sense and it does look legal now, with 1 small exception. I get the "0 step (gather)" and it makes total sense making that second step @2:42 the pivot allowing that next step to take the shot. To my eyes, it looks like he is dragging the toe on his pivot. (You can see how his toe snaps out from the floor at 2:48/49) My understanding is that had he raised his pivot to make that second step it's totally legal as you've explained, but (and correct me if I'm wrong) dragging the pivot is still a travel. Looking at the other examples, he is lifting his pivot clear off the floor. So I think that in this example that's why it was called and the others weren't.

[@louiswilliams984]

Leigh MacArthur Devin didn’t travel. Harden did. Everything Devin did had a “1,2” rhythm... can’t say the same for Giannis and Harden.

[@LeighMacArthur]

@@louiswilliams984 Not quite sure what you're replying to. I didn't mention Devin at all. I was talking about Harden dragging his pivot foot in the Heat clip but not in the Hornets clip. Rhythm has nothing to do with it. If a player keeps a rhythm it's going to be much easier to defend. I would wager a guess that it's because players today aren't going up in a rhythm is a main reason why many people think it's a travel. Back in the day there was a rhythm.

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

it's not considered a pivot foot tho because he's stepping with his next foot before taking the shot

[@LeighMacArthur]

Super Mega Foxy Awesome Hot What makes you say that? What would you consider to be the pivot foot then? When you pick up your dribble, 1 foot has to be the pivot, which is the first foot to touch the ground after picking up the ball. That’s the point of a jump stop, so the player can choose which one to use because both feet hit at the same time. The fact that he takes off on the next step is textbook example of a clear pivot foot, which he dragged in the Miami clip.

[@jdlock00]

Your music has improved. I used to get called for dragging my feet like that call the time.

[@edski8536]

Great explanation.

[@airplaneoverthesemen]

your explanation makes sense when officials take a "step 0" into account even if it hurts my European and FIBA-ruled soul

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

Fiba has the exact same rule

[@Manouel21]

yes two years since it was written down but refs are slow to catch up (not sayin that's easy )

[@airplaneoverthesemen]

@@Ryan-yu5kt it's being enforced almost exclusively when it comes to receiving the ball and starting your dribble tbqh

[@WillToNihilsm]

This foul would get called in any other league. The nba is just trying to make its superstars look better when they cant win a title.

[@1vaultdweller]

YOUR SOUL IS DEAD

[@jekkt]

10:10 look at his first dribble. i always wonder how players get away with this? they put their hand under the ball and then continue the dribble. this is the technique giannis uses to go halfcourt with 1 dribble. it's a carry

[@oseiaschiquellajunior8356]

Side of the ball not under

[@Golf-eb1xb]

Cause this fucking instagram nba shit is bs

[@toxicity2710]

This is like television Sports show with a Demo's. Wow awesome channel!

[@nozxne393]

Damn bro you broke this down perfectly

[@icedawaaave3858]

2:06-3:04 *For the trolls/idiots* Watch that over and over until you fully comprehend it. If you can’t comprehend that, then it’s on you. So either stop being a troll or actually understand what a gather step is lmao. Its a real thing in basketball. Thank you for this video, hope this doesn’t go over anyone’s heads. As for the trolls, you can’t help that they want to argue it for fun and piss people off. But for the people who genuinely don’t understand the gather step, this video is our only hope. Time to start ignoring people who think James Harden travels lmao.

[@icedawaaave3858]

OH AND ALSO 4:55 if you REALLY don’t understand how basketball works. Watch, listen, understand, pay attention, and comprehend.

[@gt4165]

IceDaWaaave EXACTLY!!!!

[@gregorytinsley3682]

IceDaWaaave W

[@Shiftteamhq]

You guys are going to hate this but lol.....the nba just came out and said they made the wrong call and that harden DIDNT TRAVEL!! ...don’t hate me I’m just the messenger

[@bballbreakdown]

😳🏀👍🤣😇🏀

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

Where did they do this? On Twitter?

[@Shiftteamhq]

YeetGod McNeckAss yes

[@nelAjamZ]

It looks like travelling...

[@onlyfacts3178]

its still travel..the NBA also said that someone making 4 steps wasnt travel...

[@blakskorpion513]

Another example of more than 3 steps between dribbles is the Jamal Crawford/ Chris Paul nutmeg. Wish you could show more of that one, it's one of my favorites!

[@johnnytong]

People are confused because Harden's move IS a travel in high school/college but most are brought up in the high school/college systems but it's allowed in the NBA/FIBA NCAA 2019 Rule book Art. 4. b. 1 (similar to NFHS Rule book) A player who catches the ball while moving or ends a dribble may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows: When one foot is on the playing court: That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step; If we're watching a college game: 2:27 He ends dribble with right foot on floor thus establishing it as pivot foot 2:42 Plants left foot - then also drags pivot foot which is a travel already but assuming no drag he then 2:48 Plants right foot (pivot foot) on floor - which is blatant travel BUT this is allowed in the NBA so we're trying to apply rules that we know as players (high school/college) to the NBA

[@anthonycelestin3559]

What Harden did was a hesitation move, Jordan did that move all the time and was never called travel

[@JShorts3]

Bro jordan could take 40 steps refs would never call xD

[@jeremykim1236]

Coach nick says that the dribble ends when the off hand controls the ball but what if someone never uses the off hand before he takes the layup?

[@etm3398]

then every step you take is a "zero" step before both hands touch the ball.

[@lankstadiscs]

You’ve “gathered” when you “control” the ball, this is a judgment call for refs and generally hinges on when you would be considered to be carrying the ball. (Your hand is past the 50 percent point where it is essentially more under than over the ball.) You can definitely make a strong move to the basket and gather with just one hand, after the moment you carry/gather/control the ball during that drive, you get your 0 step at the moment that “control” begins and two additional steps thereafter. You are leaving that up to the whims of the ref where as two handed gathering is far more certain for obvious reasons...

[@jonygolf44]

Thank god I found this video, everytime I go to play THERES always arguments about it

[@s3ann459]

Great breakdown

[@laurelkuyon2556]

Amazing footwork

[@Jackie_Fhan]

if we all can travel we are all better like james? lol

[@atomaalatonal]

the slow motion isnt slow enough. i always slow down in youtube like mad t get the EXACT moment the ball left the hand. this time its GOOD slow motion ;D. so the trick is to watch when he got the ball back in his hands just the moment before he starts to make the last TWO steps. and the third step is just IN exactly the moment between the ball on the floor and the ball in his hand?

[@ivanchan5839]

refs don't get slow motion, it's just a matter of knowing which steps are the 1-2 steps

[@bullsh3176]

Taught me a BOOK of correct info! 👍👏🤝

[@DonLee1980]

gosh, I need to work on this. Having an extra half step makes a huge difference

[@zomat7955]

Love this video. Perfect explanation. Harden times this down to the nano second. I just think you can't be mad if the ref misses this by a nano second. (And of course, the players' timing isn't always perfect either.)

[@amplitudehertz17]

But again, what’s so bogus about this call isn’t the call itself, but the fact that it was called by the ref who is behind harden and had NO vision at all about when Harden gathered.

[@ideasarepowerful-mickdemi9424]

So this is legal: Dribble, take 7 steps, dribble, take 7 steps, put two hands on the ball, take 2 more steps? Take 16 steps with only 1 dribble. As long as you only take two steps after both hands are on the ball it's legal?

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

Yes. There has never been a rule that limits the amount of steps you can take while your dribble is still alive. Although your example is hardly practical. There would be no situation in which you would be able to take 7 steps before gathering the ball.

[@jeremyzzz5067]

Ideas are Powerful - Mick Demi yup, it doesn’t matter how many steps you take when you have a live dribble

[@ideasarepowerful-mickdemi9424]

@@Ryan-yu5kt But in this video Coach Nick has his player dribble, take a million fast steps, then gather, then two steps. Isn't that an example of 7 steps, gather then two steps?

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

@@ideasarepowerful-mickdemi9424 He takes like 5 on those examples. The thing is those are just extreme examples to clarify the rule. That would be very difficult to do in-game.

[@gregorytinsley3682]

YeetGod McNeckAss even if they are extreme, still legal. thats what people dont understand. lmao they talk about harden “bending rules” but its them who try to “bend the rules”! to make harden seem like he’s doing illegal shit when he’s not lmao

[@kosmique]

yep, its all about the gather and this video is 100% correct. Ive been trying to tell this to people too but its no use.

[@ghettolovechild2484]

Yo coach, what happened to your video on the Raptors Defense against various superstars? I went to go watch it again and it says the video is private? That video was some good shit.

[@TheBigKiwi]

Glad you broke this down Coach Nick. Admittedly I thought this was a travel at first. But maybe that’s just me being bias

[@WillToNihilsm]

It is a travel.

[@dr.mukarramkhan9605]

Coach: Invented the game in yale James naismith rolling in his canadian grave

[@Da_Real_llIusion]

I guess what he said was that dribbling was invented in Yale

[@dr.mukarramkhan9605]

@@Da_Real_llIusion ill have to fact check that. Thanks!

[@so_dak-atheist]

@@dr.mukarramkhan9605 I see it's been a month since you commented but if your still interested in fact checking this here is a link to a great source. Look under the years 1897, 1898, and 1903 for the info on dribbling. digital-archives.ccny.cuny.edu/exhibits/holman/timeline.html

[@Nachohuevon21]

This changes my game bro

[@ayokofolly8208]

what is called the first foot that touches the floor at the end of the stutter-step (from beginning to end, the dribbling hand remains above the ball without catching it): is it the zero step or the pivot foot?

[@yeerboi]

Coach! The left foot drags after the first step making it a travel. Regardless how technical of a travel. It is still a travel!

[@bballbreakdown]

That’s actually not a travel. There is no rule against dragging foot like this while going up for a layup

[@yeerboi]

@@bballbreakdown You are grounding your pivot foot? How is it not a travel? Isn't the rule, once your pivot foot is lifted it must not make contact with the ground? Its the same with the shuffle if you do the 1 foot shuffle of your pivot foot that is a travel? I will say in general what you are showing i 100% agree with. The gather plus 1 2 is from what i see is clear.

[@dennisthemenace855]

@@bballbreakdown coach I don't think you looking into this deep enough go look back in history YOU WAS NEVER ALLOWED to drag your foot

[@kaibiganyt1887]

You is not allowed to drag your foot but theres nothing that says you cant do it while having a layup because a pivot is the anchor lmao he kept going :3 and nba players like james harden are good in finding holes in the book

[@wyatt5167]

on another note: Ya'll remember when the Heat stadium used to be full for games o.o

[@Daniel-co3je]

This aged badly

[@d-watshoustonsfinest7363]

That slow mo..was monster.

[@julioviloria3289]

He touched the ball with his left hand BEFORE his right foot landed so that counts as a step and he took three. Harden also travels when he takes three steps on a "stepback" jumper sometimes. He hides it so well by keeping his legs wide while skipping his toes multiple times so it looks like one step but it was three steps back.

[@mostflip4856]

Music is fitting. Interesting video

[@RetroJaysFTW]

+1 lol I love the song choice.

[@khanman8113]

See, the rules may say it’s legal. But if I tried this in a high school game or if a college player tried it, it would probably be called by the refs

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

Because those refs are the same people on twitter that have a preconceived notion of what a travel is, eventhough theyre wrong

[@WillToNihilsm]

@@Ryan-yu5kt NBA refs are paid off

[@Ryan-yu5kt]

@@WillToNihilsm AKA "They dont call what i think should be called so theyre paid off"

[@jjlagoutaris518]

@@Ryan-yu5kt I mean, in the defense of those refs, most leagues use their own rules, not those of the NBA, so it would be a travel in those leagues.

[@WillToNihilsm]

@@Ryan-yu5kt Tim donaghey

[@jjthe13th]

I'm waiting for the spin move breakdown, I've been called for travelling many times when I spin and I don't get it

[@aryeugene8539]

Thank youuuuu, so many people dont understand

[@mitriul1692]

every one will say its a travel if I tried it on my court

[@Jonathan-rf5cp]

They would be wrong

[@MFBOOM100]

Fuck your court theyre idiots. Harden is the truth.

[@jvostudio]

As much as i hate harden, watching harden in slo-mo is oddly satisfying

[@danhorsmon8785]

Trail official has the call because it comes from his Primary, C and Lead only pick this up if there is secondary contact or suck on their whistle briefly if the trail doesn't call it.

[@alpkulaksizoglu3230]

First clip I kind of see how some people can argue that it is not a travel, but second clip is outright a travel. The angle doesn't show it all that well, but Harden takes 3 steps after he squeezes the ball between his hand and his body, which implies he has full control of the ball.

[@laufal]

This 2-step rule would be much more simple if it said: AFTER the final touch of the ball, you can only make 2 steps (whether you control it or not)

[@fenixchief7]

That's also not the rule so not sure what you want

[@brady4133]

@@fenixchief7 "A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of adribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball." Looks like a rule to me...

[@fenixchief7]

@@brady4133 thats not what he said so I'm not sure what you think you're proving. The nba allows a gather step before the two steps. It's not hard to figure out

[@brady4133]

@@fenixchief7 you said it wasnt a rule but I just copied and pasted the rule for you

[@fenixchief7]

@@brady4133 you can't comprehend that what you copy and pasted is not what the person I was replying to said?

[@The1housepett]

Bro he drags the so called pivot foot

[@MuttonErase]

technically should be called a travel but if they started calling, so many dunks would be called as travels

[@amwot6699]

I see it bro

[@satrnjb9913]

I played in that gym in high school. We visited them and got absolutely destroyed. Great team and coaching staff

[@socksonfeet8125]

The 3 step looking move is what Harden was talking about in the offseason, he's been practicing it to make sure his "zero" step is there, thats why you can clearly see his hand and foot are in sync before he takes the two steps. He said there would be controversy because it would look like a travel and there already is after one game haha, this man is single handedly pushing the boundary of the rules and making the nba adjust hahaha

[@GabrielJames-ti3jf]

how did this college ref miss arm days when building that chest?

[@luislam5193]

Rule book should just say you’re allowed 3 steps if they are going to allow a “gather step”.

[@tamicha1]

No, then they'd be a gather step plus 3. I don't know why this is so difficult for people to grasp. Forget the gather step, just try to understand what a live dribble is, and what it means to end it.

[@yousjiveturkey]

Another moron smh

[@kanishkrath3279]

Then people will just start taking four steps

[@FREE_WILL_DEFENDER]

Exactly

[@daytripper1023]

You didn’t understand what they were saying. It’s not about the number of steps, as you can theoretically have an infinite number of steps if the dribble is still live. That’s what the “gather step” is. It’s the step while you’re gathering your live dribble, and he shows with the stutter step that you can take multiple steps while the dribble is still live and have it still be completely legal.

[@Drakshl]

Question: by your pivot coming down again does that just mean it making any contact with the ground? Because you can clearly see the toes of his pivot foot making contact with the ground before the release. It didn't affect the play and it might be picky but that looks like a travel

[@365expressions5]

Idk man I don’t think they addressed all of the options here. Can you make a strong step and plant during the love dribble and the take two solid steps after that during the gather? All I saw was in the clip harden had two hands on the ball on his first step, and then two more came after The whole step back thing I’m still super skeptical of lol

[@chriszanna4591]

In summary: James Harden is a freak of nature

[@Jackie_Fhan]

if we all can travel we are all better like james? lol

[@crazywee5]

@@Jackie_Fhan It just means James isn't travelling. Are you that dense to not understand something as simple as that?

[@Jackie_Fhan]

@@crazywee5 you start your two steps when your hand isn't going for a dribble. There is no doubt he is traveling. If you play that way you deserve to get called for it every time chang

[@Sotanath86q]

the lack of respect for harden is ridiculous. There's no player that has the ability and work ethic to bend the rules as much as he does. The refs don't give him special treatment, he just has an incredibly deep understanding of exactly what he can get away with and the skill to execute.

[@Jackie_Fhan]

@@Sotanath86q him traveling has nothing to do with respect

[@captaintang1]

it look weird but if u break it down in slow mo it is legal. But that gather step in real time really does looked close to a travel,

[@darwinpepito4945]

Will...correct me if I'm wrong if that's not a travel... 😂 😂 😂

[@dorianwright6854]

Yes. About time.

[@ddude27]

The ref was secretly making up for the carry at the beginning

[@improvisewitme]

There's nothing that coach Nick can say that would convince me this isn't a travel

[@johnmarston5918]

What about the left foot dragging, doesn't that constitute a third step. The pivot foot was never picked up or was planted down again ?

[@butterNpants]

Harden is that one guy who finds all the exploits and glitches in a video game to cheese everyone else when he plays