Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by bigdogrunnin

7) The shooter can retrieve his or her own airball, if the referee considers it to be a shot attempt. The release ends team control. It is not a violation for that player to start another dribble at that point. When an airborne player keeps control of an attempted shot that is blocked and is unable to release the ball and returns to the floor with it, that player has not traveled; it is a jump ball. If, in this situation, the shooter releases the ball, then this is simply a blocked shot and play continues.

Question . . .

My understanding of the rule ("highlighted above") is that if the defender and the offensive player are BOTH still in contact with the ball we would have a jump ball; however, if the defender is no longer in contact with the ball and the offensive player comes back to the floor still holding the ball, then we would have a traveling violation on the offensive player. What is the correct interpretation?? Thanks.

Your statement is not necessarily correct. You can have either a travel or a held ball....or...you can also have a player legally return to the floor with the ball without a defender still contacting the ball.

- if the defender touches the ball in the airborne shooter's hands and the shooter now lands on the court---> traveling only if the touch didn't affect the release of the ball or held ball if the touch did affect the release of the ball. Both are judgment calls.
- if a defender touches the ball after the shot has left the shooter's hands, and the shooter now recovers the ball in the air, the shooter can legally land..and dribble, shoot, pass, etc.
- if the defender knocks the ball out of the airborne shooter's hand(s), the shooter can also recover the ball and then legally land with it...and dribble, shoot, etc.

Dem's the different calls.