[malus]

Originally Posted by APG

Ignore fullor

The language that you posted is no longer in the NBA rule book...

This is what the rule book says:

b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing must release the ball to start his dribble before his second step.

The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.

The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.

Now in your play, the offensive player catches the ball with his right foot on the floor. The first step comes next with the player steps with the left foot. The 2nd step then occurs when the right foot hits the floor. In this play the pivot foot is the left foot. He lifted it..so he has to either shoot or pass the ball before it returns to the floor...which he does. This play is legal under NBA rules.

Note that the play above is illegal under NFHS (high school)/NCAA rules.

Thanks for the detailed response.