Showboat dunk

[ChuckElias]

Here's a question that somebody asked me and I didn't have the answer right away. I think I know the answer now, but I'd like to solicit opinions from the board. Here's the question.

Player dribbles to the FT line, then ends his dribble and throws the ball against his own backboard. He takes several steps down the lane, catches the ball after it hits the backboard, and dunks it.

We've all seen this in the NBA dunk competition. The question is: is the move actually legal in game-conditions? Is passing the ball off the backboard "passing to yourself", or an illegal dribble (since he ended his dribble)? What makes it legal or illegal, as the case may be?

As I said, I now am pretty sure that I know the answer. But what say you?

Chuck