Rafer Alston Dribbles Between His Legs; Whistled For Traveling

May 24, 2001 - Streetball legend Rafer Alston (aka Skip to My Lou) made a rare appearance during Game 2 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals. Looking to bring a touch of style to the NBA hardwood, Alston was whistled for a travel less than 30 seconds after entering the contest.

[@loujackcity]

The ref was tryna save the defender's ankles lowkey

[@marcuseversley3334]

the defender was about to die

[@NoName-pq1dz]

Lawrence 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@dalewilson2034]

🤣💯

[@likkerland]

Raja bell was gonna lock him up.

[@anthonywest9924]

He was about to cook his ass 💀

[@p8chill]

Definition of playa hatin right thur

[@antoinette2619]

lol

[@pxppy150]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@dillondank5662]

And people STILL can't accept it's rigged 🐑

[@saviorself1164]

​@@dillondank5662After watching the officiating through these playoffs and how it really seemed as if Boston was getting every call, I actually have opened my mind to this being a possibility. I also look back at different points in league history for reference. Look at the 1985 draft. The prize in the draft was Patrick Ewing and New York is the biggest media market. How convenient that the Knicks ended up with the first pick that year

[@idkidk2573]

@@dillondank5662 It's not rigged just influenced by the refs.

[@jaeaustin7362]

This is back when refs were trying to destroy Iverson..NBA didn’t want that style of play in their league

[@unxpctd79molowe23]

Word! #SayItAgain

[@clarkbar]

i wish they did. Now every player carries

[@iaintthereyet914]

Yea, he does and everyone does carry now, obviously you don’t

[@clarkbar]

@LOGHAN BROWN it does go under the ball man, what are you watching. Not that i want to hear a whistle every possession and i accept times change, but its a carry every time these guys dribble anymore

[@clarkbar]

@LOGHAN BROWN every finger cradles the ball here when Alston gets called, what arent you seeing?

[@GTheGenius]

Skip to my Lou was about to come out.

[@dalewilson2034]

GTG Beats 😂💯

[@parrishharris3008]

That's a fact

[@jabarijones9588]

Once a And 1 baller, always an And 1 baller.

[@hermp1174]

So true

[@MoneyOverFame]

Lol they was hating on skip ALOT in his earlier nba days.

[@nicjohn60]

Who is skip?

[@Cr33p_Inn_Diss_Guys]

@@nicjohn60 racer Alston but his nickname was skip to my lu because if his street ball style and origin with handles

[@jflack6]

*a lot

[@Supp-er]

Too much sauce back then.

[@Fcottrell98]

@@hybs9473 Wow!

[@samjames807]

They must’ve wanted him to dribble out like bob Cousy 😂😂

[@richardyocum353]

Stanley Hudson on the office basketball game. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXa5eGCtbM2ll7c 58 second mark

[@alexfrazier6948]

Like Bernie Mac said "Bob Cousy had one hand." 😅🤣

[@Cantstopwontstop2011]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@derronoliver6640]

😂😂 they wuda gave him a Tech for sure

[@jahjahnumba6126]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mookeychase0907]

I looked at this 10 times he neither walked nor carried or palmed the ball,ref was hatin smh...

[@marcgarvey]

He didn't travel. And it is people who think like +brettfred7 that are the problem. No actual infraction. But hey, we'll call one anyhow because you have a (Black) style I don't like.

[@mookeychase0907]

***** Have I played BB yeah I played and I coached and I watched 12 years before that I'm 50 years old I aint new to this. You're exactly the refs was sending a message he didn't violate any rule the ref made a statement,you said it right. This dude did not carry the ball in the gym in the league in the school yard no where period! Just because a "ref says so" doesn't make the call correct. Yo refs blow calls show favoritism shut down certain players etc. Bird Traveled on his jab step Magic palmed the ball superstars violate rules all the time. Seems like alotta people agree with me. Yo okay since your vision, point, knowledge, is so profound tell me at what point did he carry the ball? ...

[@mookeychase0907]

Marc Garvey Yo if you read his statement he agreed with what I said he said.."Refs were just saying it's not Harlem Globetrotters" which is what I said he was guilty of being a street ball legend and they were letting him know "And1 style of B ball won't be tolerated in this league" when I said they were hatin that's what I meant. Yo also down below I went into detail as to why they were hatin. bettfred7 is agreeing when he says "they let him know this aint the Harlem globetrotters" with that said it still doesn't make them right and it doesn't constitute a violation just because "the refs" blew the whistle...

[@mookeychase0907]

***** I just saw this comment as I said we both agree it was a statement/shutdown call...some people say And1 isn't b ball it's merely streetball entertainment but notice in an All-star game every rule in the book is broken but looked over for what,entertainment purposes go figure...

[@Ty33Budd]

mookeychase0907 Ref wasn't hating, he never seen no shit like that and was like "WTF, something is wrong, how in the hell is he doing that, must be a violation"

[@Dymez187]

skip was about to cross dude out his shoes...

[@cjkey5515]

The ref was like “oh shit, Skip fixing to come out, I gotta save this mans ankles......TRAVEL TRAVEL” 😂😂😂

[@parrishharris3008]

Lmao that's a good one

[@blunca22]

Factz

[@juansagredo580]

lol

[@freestylingwhistler]

that is neither travelling nor carrying...pitiful

[@mookeychase0907]

yeah the refs were trynna shut him down they weren't gonna let him bring none of the And 1 antics in the league. Which wasn't really fair it was his game...

[@dalewilson2034]

mookeychase0907 Exactly! You can do any move, as long, as it isn’t a travel, That’s why i like watching college basketball because the refs give the players the freedom to do any move that they want, as long, as it isn’t a travel.

[@RapOvrDos]

@@tskitishvili3 you need glasses

[@RapOvrDos]

@@tskitishvili3 so I guess you didn’t see the push/foul that caused the travel, again you might need glasses

[@RapOvrDos]

@@tskitishvili3 you admit to seeing contact at :32 “push” but no foul “👓” your bias

[@YakatheGremlin]

I heard from somewhere that back then, the refs were told to crack down on street ball moves... This was when AND1 was relevant, so kinda makes sense

[@nicenow25]

Mel Yakabuza you are exactly right. they don't want Harlem globetrotter stuff there unless somebody white is doing it.

[@PistolKev]

+David Bana always gotta be a sjw like you making everything a race issue

[@nicenow25]

*****​ catch me out side how bout dah! Lmao!!

[@Pilifo006]

But that was not a streetball move, that was a legitimate dribble. No traveling there - Alston didn't palm the ball, he kept dribbling the whole time.

[@denniscruz4847]

David Bana They wasn’t saying shit when Pistol Pete was doing it then.

[@DJRashadHayes]

Ive seen Jason Williams literally hopping and jumping and skipping in the air and they call this??

[@pCOCKPRO11]

FAX 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gregorysaunders4486]

Word!!!! 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@derekgoodejr8788]

RIGHT. WTF SMH

[@hopefulElect-m9b]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@patrickmiller1674]

He was ⚪

[@Abstrack23]

One of my all time favorite players and one of the best ball handlers in history.

[@donmarleymall]

Rafael was bout bring out that skip to my lou on the floor😂

[@charltonblalock2510]

That reminded me of the movie "Semi-Pro". Will Ferrell threw an alley-oop to Andre 3000 & the ref called a "foul".🤣🤣🤣

[@parrishharris3008]

Oh my god, i forgot about that movie and that particular scene but you definitely right 👌👍✌.

[@bchisolm44]

Funniest scene in the movie, i laughed so hard 🤣 😂

[@wolfpack287]

"No, two fouls!"

[@sentienceRemains]

No, two fouls! I know you beat me to it but I was gonna say it and by golly I’m gonna said it.

[@Burgandythoughts]

No two fouls😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bmillersince92]

Now they allow James harden to travel on every 3 pointer he shoots

[@yuatjawarriorcityhunter1782]

Five step Harden lol

[@marcus.6487]

eggzackly 😄

[@DUBC50]

Exactly!!!

[@808kicks2]

Big facts

[@jboone7570]

@@DUBC50 a

[@fllooo]

i love the fact that this call the referee made is immortalized

[@RyanSantos-ol9lr]

They parked him

[@diamondmoore3165]

wtf? but when people actually walk they dont call it 😔foh

[@box5bastard277]

exactly yell

[@brandonposey2724]

Yeah!!!! Like that 9 step step back bullshit that James Harden does, they let that go but, Skip for a the skip and it's travelling? Gtfoh!!!

[@cliffxu1115]

​@@brandonposey2724Lebron's travel you haven't seen kid, that was what the league was protecting, not JH. JH's move was awesome, people trying to learn, but called travelling, including Stephen curry, and possibly you, cuz you guys will never be able to learn.

[@brandonposey2724]

@ Cliff xu, dawg, you can dress it up however you want. If it's beyond ONE MOVEMENT of your PIVOT FOOT, IT IS A DAMNED TRAVEL!!!!!

[@brandonposey2724]

@ Cliff xu, and what Eager does in this video is in fact, NOT A TRAVEL. He dribbles upon each step. JH on the other hand? He just invented 2k's unidentified architype which is PURE TRAVELER. 😂😂😂. Nonetheless he's an MVP. Some moves he does are spectacular. But otherwise, naw man I know what I am seeing in today's game and the refs are COMPLETELY at fault.

[@Braselton21]

He was about to break that guys ankles

[@bongknn720]

+Charlie Johnson That ref save that guy from getting ankle break .

[@emoney9295]

Imagine these refs against James Harden today

[@lincolnward85]

I actually wish they'd call a travel every time he takes that extra step in his step back

[@jsdzx]

@@lincolnward85 , the rules allow the gather step. Y’all literally get mad at harden for understanding and executing the rules the league have in place. If the league wanted to all they would have to do is remove the gather lol.

[@lincolnward85]

@@jsdzx when was a gather step created

[@flojdidit]

Harden would average 11 points a game on free throws 🤣

[@GainaIytics]

Imagine them agains James Lebron

[@GreatBodoh]

This is why Alston couldn't really shine playing in the NBA. If not the officials, the coaches will be giving him a hard time trying to get him to suppress his playstyle whilst in the NBA. If he had more free space to bring a little more 'skip to my lou' into his game while playing in the league I'm sure he could play better.

[@GreatBodoh]

Pardon my english

[@MikeDuckworth84]

His style won't work in the NBA. At best he'll what, cross someone over in the half court set? Which opens up what, a long mid-range jumper or a heavily contested layup. The pick and roll is much more effective, per possession, than isolation sets (unless you have an ELITE scorer). Alston was never a great shooter and isn't big enough to dominate at the rim. Yeah, a slick crossover looks cool, but it's too much risk to open up a look that a few passes or a pick could easily open.

[@shooterdrews1945]

Mike Duckworth the point of penetration is to get a good look which doesn't mean he has to shoot it just means his penetration might make the defense collapse and open up an easy pass

[@kavonbez]

Mike Duckworth he actually started for Orlando during the playoffs the year they beat Cleveland and went to the finals.

[@jonathanavice3524]

you right

[@brownhippy]

That was a horrible call. All he did was dribble

[@MrSmitty1074]

It was

[@parrishharris3008]

Exactly

[@timhardawayjr.3532]

I think he traveled earlier and it was just a late call

[@parrishharris3008]

Lmao that's a good one

[@andriagassi]

@@timhardawayjr.3532 There’s no travel anywhere from the beginning until the end of the video.

[@johngarcia8798]

1st ever "traveling will dribbling" 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@sgr7th]

Refs: "Is it dribbling? Is it traveling? 0_0 quick! quick! call traveling..."

[@beastmode1980434]

I remember when they used to do Skip like this smh. Let Steph or Kyrie do it now and they're praising it.

[@carlosrob6494]

Now the whole league traveling on every play!

[@rhorn04]

Right! He was before his time. Harden wouldn’t make it early 2000s 😂

[@sgr7th]

thats because of that wack ass Wilson ball.

[@cuervojones6454]

If we really want to get super technical, he did travel at the :32 mark. His picks up his pivot (left) foot JUST before he dribbles even though a travel was called 4 seconds later.

[@jaym9200]

You could call a travel on everyone on damn near every possession in the NBA

[@Toad_Moto]

I miss seeing that 90s early 2000 dribbling flair.

[@Blackboy559]

This is the reason why I rather watch him play streetball

[@crakktownpee]

The and 1 street ball king

[@tyvu89]

You see this in every game in todays basketball

[@YoungMasala]

He wasn’t a product of the nba process he was pure in his game and it wasn’t systematic for the league plus the nba plays favorites anyway

[@tekniqs]

that wasn't even "fancy" ..wtf? lol perfectly legal

[@ephesus]

+tekniqs The announcer says traveling, but he got called for carrying.

[@tekniqs]

+ephesus wasn't carrying either though..

[@X02Overdose]

For the time it probably was

[@RapOvrDos]

@@X02Overdose not a carry

[@yam034]

I agree it's just a between the leg dribble.

[@christiancarino4931]

You know what I do like about this video, is he didn’t even complain. Today’s players woulda been crying all day.

[@nochepatada]

They should really look into racism among NBA refs. They did a study once, it looked really bad for the NBA

[@maddy4heisman]

Facts

[@kreativekulturetv2488]

For real! They did Iverson the same way!

[@MrMan-fx3ow]

Especially back during the iverson era

[@nochepatada]

@@MrMan-fx3ow when sheed got a technical for looking at the ref?🤣

[@howardpryor7778]

Good idea. It would never happen or be taken seriously. Unfortunate. Smfh.

[@crakktownpee]

This mans started all that

[@rightknowledgeman]

Ref was clueless about dope handles

[@actionstarandson9027]

That is the reason why skip to my lou didn't succeed in the nba because they don't understand the dribbling back then

[@phillyfan18769]

Rafer was letting everyone knows he’s Skip to my Lou

[@DR05jr]

They use to really dislike him in the beginning

[@snoop569]

I like how he didn't complain about like the players of today would who usually did what they were called for

[@drewjohnson9417]

idk how he didnt...anyone in their right mind would have argued that call to their death bed cause its unfair careless on the refs part, and in some situations bad calls can completely change the outcome of the game. the ref should be fined

[@ballinboxer3676]

maybe he knew that it was a carry so he didn't complain

[@Luminus2]

They were up by 19 points with 1 minute left in the game, he probably didn't care.

[@ThaDreamMerchant]

Like Brandon said, they had a big ass lead so it didn't really matter. Ref knew some ankles were gonna be taken if he didn't blow that whistle

[@versatillion15]

BallinBoxer wasn’t a carry what are you talking about

[@tjanderson5892]

WTF was that? I for real thought maybe a 5 second. But there was nothing close to a travel, carry, or double dribble. That's wild

[@peterstark4562]

This is how strict the refs were in travelling/ball handling violations. This will never be called a travel in today's NBA

[@dripp2080]

They use to hate on this dude all the time when he tried those moves. They didn’t want to see a world where the street hoopers felt like they could make it in the league.

[@Kensane12]

Meanwhile, Lebron is traveling his ass off into championships! lol smh Edit after 6 years: JAMES "ROUND TRIP" HARDEN THOUGH!!!!

[@chad3494]

+Kensane12 Meanwhile you guys won't stop mentioning LeBron on unrelated videos

[@tsuki2912]

+J_Murph he doesn't travel as much as people says he does. you just hate on him because he's LeBron.

[@im2hastyle]

No! You're wrong! He's also flopping too.

[@Rich_iam]

nigga take 5 steps and a gallop, get tapped on the wrist and he want a foul

[@arnecruz]

Urwrstnightmre Sorry Lebron and travelling are brothers.

[@blakegowavy]

Something crazy was bout to happen

[@termainemathis1978]

Mane dey knew"Skip 2 my Lou", Was gonna break him off something "PROPER"🤘💯🤦‍♂️💯🤘

[@Wu_36]

“Hey you can’t do all that Pistol Pete stuff here, buddy!!!” ~The Ref

[@theempire2299]

He was about to Skip to my Lou And 1 style

[@fullyrooted__org]

Watching this as a grown man he damn sure traveled. Picked up his pivot foot before the dribble. Ref called the wrong travel

[@TigerCraneLove]

I remember that call. That's when skip was blowing up and them And 1 mix tapes were popping. They been hating on skip since he was in college.

[@davidprodigy5833]

If they think this is travelling, they outa see today's basketball (2025)

[@againstthemajority6659]

That's 1 of those I'm mad I can't do that kinda calls

[@jdubbs3634]

Those refs wouldn’t have air left in their lungs if they ref’d a James harden game

[@DeeSellsYou]

If that’s a travel what the hell is James Harden doing? 🤷‍♂️

[@randomanton]

good ole' rafer alston

[@ninjabomb9346]

Imagine Raf in todays game....he'd be right at home.

[@JOSHW1CK5]

Bucks played 5 against 8 all series, beyond ridiculous.

[@OneDollaBill88]

Epic Fail when the Magic put Nelson back as startig PG in the Finals ... he was at his best and a big part of Orlando's success ... he is one of the most talented natural born Point Guards ever ... "he is a Point God G.O.D.!" ;-) by the way, the ref's decission was bullsh*t

[@giemueluy]

I remember that! I was so hyped about Rafer's performance in the absence of Jameer. He took the Magic on that Finals run. Then they brought Jameer back! Always thought he was a cancer to that team! So pissed off when they replaced Alston in favor of Nelson

[@akeembrown7661]

I know rafer was good and all but why are yall shitting on jameer? he was an allstar something alston never was close to being.

[@dynodin81]

@@akeembrown7661 You can be an All Star but bring down a team!

[@akeembrown7661]

@@dynodin81 I know that for sure. I’m just saying I’m pretty sure jameer was a much better nba player than rafer by the stats and just watching games….. imo

[@StupendousWizdom]

@@akeembrown7661Nah Bro… Numbers can be Deceptive…. It’s about Politics & You know it… The NBA did not like Skip’s style period & Anybody who had That Streetball Reputation following Them… Skip had to change His game for The NBA to accept Him… Jameer is & was a Accolade Machine , Won a lot of Individual awards & had a Cleaner Image that The League wanted to Promote …. That’s why Van Gundy didn’t receive the Backlash He should’ve gotten for The Benching of Skip while The Team was in Rhythm… Only The Real Streetball Fans complained about what Van Gundy did jus before The Finals was about to begin… Till this day One can Argue That that Decision by Van Gundy very well could’ve been a call made by Higher Ups in The Leagues Office … They did not want The Imagery of more Streetballers in Their League Performing at a High Level… When U can push the agenda that Streetball doesn’t work in The NBA…

[@healthfadsfade]

Crazy thing is they carry more egregiously every single damn dribble in 2025. Skip didn’t

[@deezydee3400]

Skip 2 my Lou ... so inspirational man

[@TruthOverFact]

Ref did his job, saw a crime about to occur and stopped it immediately... our defenders are safer because of these brave men...

[@parrishharris3008]

Yooooooooooo that's all good one

[@scooterallen1834]

Damn, he was carrying during the first sequence of plays.

[@factzfromakt1860]

Rafer was only known for the And1 Mixtape Vol. 1 highlights when he first got in the league so they didn’t think he was a REAL ball player. It wasn’t much footage of him at Fresno State for real. Skip was DEFINITELY about to come out when he started that slow dribble.

[@lvlanier1501]

wtf hell No wtf is they talking about no travel no carry foh hate'n god dam!!!😲😂😂

[@selfmade8884]

Then J Will came into the league and all of a sudden he was allowed to do all of this and more.

[@antoinegoode8990]

damn where is that ref today?

[@Workin2anEarlyGrave]

ref must be like 'omg he is mocking our association game! wtf should we do? scanning superstardom... negative... call travel... affirmative'

[@camm8642]

this is where skip's streetball reputation hurt him anything like that from him and the officials are gonna look at it different sadly.

[@Jay-fv5vq]

He had flava and u know how some ppl feel about seasoning..

[@elmechanic]

Algorithms did they job yet again still can’t believe we had skip to my Lou

[@DanielMcGeary]

Ref seen Skip to my Lou slowly coming out, had to nip it in the bud

[@mvp5316]

Alston was ahead of his time in the NBA. The NBA refs wasn't "in tune" to the dribbling in what is now "the norm". I honestly feel that Alston has the best ball handling skills til this very date.

[@jahad108]

So when we tell kids that people had talent and could do things but just wasn’t allowed to, now you see why.

[@BruceBannerKLUH]

"Skip to my lou" was waaaaaay ahead of his time and the refs hadn't time travelled to his timeline to know what was coming. 😂

[@BonganiSello]

He actually did travel, right before making the fancy dribble

[@_m-hd8cn]

great clip

[@denizkendirci]

definitely not travel. walking fancy by dribble all normal and legally doesn't make it travelling.

[@inquisitive.lurker]

carrying but I disagree dont think that was a carry

[@everettej8218]

They was hating then now it’s the normal. Just like you got a tech for dunking back in the day

[@SureFeelsGood]

I loved alston

[@edorocko1548]

the defender pay the reff to calling all of the skip's dribble in every second times lol

[@javianjohnson8746]

Ahh yes, 2001...when Allen Iverson was King and the league office hated it. The refs did NOT want this style of play to rub off across the league

[@dapper892]

The refs don’t dictate rules, the league does, refs just enforce it.

[@gabiangregoric2893]

This reminds me of teachers back in the day throwing you out of class for being a little goofy and different...yet leaving all the bullies alone

[@antoinette2619]

that was a bogus call

[@MrSmitty1074]

It was

[@jdfraed123]

Twas difficult for the Refs back when things were all pixilated.. It wasn't easy back then

[@Itzslimm]

How was that a travel, ref h8tin

[@u8ntme86]

Jason Williams jumped in the air but kept his hand on top of the ball the whole time. Jwill is a true Champion bruh 💯

[@itsfree2payattentionkp853]

Don't bring that s*** into our game is what the ref saying lol 😂

[@Ecm-k6q]

Rafer would be a fan favourite in this era

[@aaronlewis4734]

They didnt call a travel, he got called for carrying.

[@araynova]

Carrying is called "traveling" in the league bro. They're one in the same. Either way, it was a bogus call lol.

[@jimduncan-qw6xo]

Correct call. It's before the dribbling. Moves his pivot.

[@maine2132]

That was nowhere near a travel..Hatin azz Ref. Nowadays they’re aloud to take 17 steps🤦🏾‍♂️

[@georgiaboytj]

Fast fwd to 2020!! Dudes traveling all the time

[@Soulofaman]

First time in nba history traveled was called look at James harden dude travels all the time

[@silvanojr]

Well, he moved both feet before starting to dribble the ball. But if that was the reason why they called it, then it was very delayed.

[@NickLSax]

I remember seeing this live. It was, and still is, bullshit. GO BUCKS GO!

[@lespaul1968]

traveling is out of hand today because of the adition of zero step or gather step clarification of the rules , I believe 2 times in the last 20 years definitely in 2019.

[@JoyBoyRico313]

Wtf what call?

[@curiouslymavismade]

Skip To My Lou Mode!

[@Maiselph90042]

#PLAYERHATER

[@KQzActAsSuch]

Vlad brought me here. That WAS NOT a travel!

[@frostb25]

On some real shit f the NBA Black's should stop playing in the league and put money in there own

[@CSRM139]

May I ask why?(Besides the Donald Sterling situation, everyone knows that man is an idiot)

[@Passarinho86]

Yes and they could start by funding a tutor to teach you the difference between: "there" and "their". ;-)

[@KamalToeHarris]

I agree. Blacks should leave. Make the NBA White Again!