Tag: Traveling

James Harden’s legal Eurostep confuses Jazz announcers, Twitter

Though Utah’s announcers and some Twitter users wanted a traveling call to nullify a James Harden bucket, the officials got it right.

The Utah Jazz television broadcast crew and many Twitter users wanted officials to call a traveling violation on a second-half basket by Houston star James Harden during Saturday’s 120-110 win by the Rockets.

But according to the NBA’s own rulebook, what the All-Star guard pulled off appears to be a perfectly legal (and lethal) move.

For the game, Harden led the Rockets with 38 points and seven assists on 13-of-23 shooting (56.5%), headlined by a 6-of-11 showing (54.5%) on 3-pointers. But it was a drive to the basket around two Jazz defenders that attracted the most attention around the league.

The immediate reaction from Utah’s broadcasters:

At every level of basketball, three steps is a travel. We know that.

However, that’s not what it says in the rulebook. From the NBA:

A player who gathers the ball while dribbling may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.

The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after the player gathers the ball.

In this case, the former MVP is gathering the ball as he makes what he broadcasters seemingly believe is his first step. Per the rulebook, that does not count toward the two steps that Harden is allowed.

With a timeout called after the layup, Harden celebrated by mimicking the footwork of the Eurostep move on his way to the bench.

Fortunately, the league’s on-court officials got the call right, and it should serve as a teaching moment for fans and media members.

As for Harden, after going through an extended slump in January, he’s clearly turned it around of late. The NBA’s top scorer at 35.2 points per game this season is averaging 33.8 points and 7.8 assists per game over his last five outings, all on 48.0% shooting and 37.1% on 3-pointers.

Harden and the Rockets will look to keep their momentum rolling when they host the New York Knicks (17-39) on Monday night at Toyota Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central time.

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