The Most Misunderstood NFHS Basketball Rules ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The traveling rules state that foot movement not described as legal is illegal. The rules then say that a player jumps while holding the ball only has 2 legal options ... shoot or pass .. .before returning to the floor. The fact that they jumped while holding the ball has committed said player to one of those two action ... their options are set when they jump. Landing and picking up the ball is not one of the available options.

Thanks Camron Rust. You've convinced me, and you did it in the simple terms that I asked for.

It's back on the list, in a clarified version.

When an airborne shooter fumbles the ball (while still in the air) instead of releasing the ball on a try, unintentionally drops the ball, and then returns to the floor and secures possession of the ball, it’s a traveling violation because the airborne shooter didn't shoot or pass before landing and picking up the ball.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

So the old adage that one can always legally pick up a fumble is "just" an old adage and not fully rule based and isn't always true.