[ChuckElias]

It's a little unclear exactly what the situation is from the original post. It goes one of two ways:

1) A1 shoots.
2) B1 rebounds and throws long pass towards B's frontcourt.
3a) A2 jumps from A's backcourt.
3b) A2 jumps from A's frontcourt.
4) A2 catches the ball
5a) A2 lands in A's frontcourt.
5b) A2 lands in A's backcourt.

In either scenario, I agree that this is not a backcourt violation on A2. But there are different reasons, depending on which scenario was played out.

Let's take it step-by-step. What are the four things required to call a backcourt violation?

A) there must be team control
B) the ball must have achieved frontcourt status
C) a player from the team in control must be the last to touch the ball in the frontcourt
D) a player from that same team must be the first to touch the ball after it has been in the backcourt

Now let's go back to the original play. In the "a" scenario, there is no backcourt violation b/c requirement B was not met. There certainly was team control b/c A2 caught the ball. However, his team's control in the frontcourt ended with A1's shot. So no violation.

The "b" scenario is tougher. Again, there is team control, b/c A2 has caught the ball. The ball does have frontcourt status when A2 catches it, b/c he last touched the floor in the frontcourt. He's the last player to touch it in the frontcourt (by virtue of catching it) and he is also the first person to touch it in the backcourt (when he lands, holding the ball). So in this case, all 4 elements of the violation have been met. So why no violation? It's an exception to the backcourt rule. It just seemed unfair to penalize a great defensive play, so the rules committee just decided to make an exception for this particular type of play.

By the way, the "b" is also not a violation by NBA rules, although for a different reason. Under NBA rules, the defensive team is not considered to have a frontcourt or backcourt. So element B above would not have been met.

My long-winded two cents.

Chuck