Can an offensive player move into the path of an airbourn defensive player?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by just another ref

He was stationary until the defender was airborne, then he jumped into the defender before the defender could land.

So if the defender was running and the ball handler was running and that collide, the foul is on the defender. But if they both jump, the foul is on the player with the ball.

That makes no sense whatsoever.

That is why the foul, if one is called, can only be on the offensive player.

My rule book says "The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs."

It says nothing about an airborne defender being exempt from this rule. Further, say what you want, the rule says "not toward" the opponent. If he doesn't jump toward the opponent but move laterally or obliquely, he doesn't make contact.



What does your rule book say?