League says new rule gives ball-handlers the time they need to collect themselves after collecting the ball
NEW YORK — Responding to years of confusion over when, exactly, a basketball player is considered to be holding a basketball, the NBA announced Thursday the adoption of the “regather step,” a new rule granting players one additional step to gather themselves after gathering the ball but before taking the steps that come after the gather.
The change comes less than 24 hours after Minnesota guard LaMelo Ball, in his Timberwolves debut, picked up his dribble inside the arc in Miami and walked backward to the three-point line in a sequence that officials later described as “a lot, but within reason.” The broadcast crew questioned the play on air, and Ball’s brother Lonzo was seen laughing at the clip on social media, which league sources confirmed is now the NBA’s primary officiating review system.
“For decades we’ve asked players to complete a gather and then take two steps. Frankly, that’s a lot to ask of someone in the middle of a possession,” said Darnell Pruitt, the league’s newly appointed Senior Vice President of Footwork Interpretation. “With the regather, a player who feels his gather didn’t fully land can take one more step to re-center, reassess and, if needed, gather again. We want our athletes to feel gathered.”
Under the updated rulebook, a legal possession now consists of the pre-gather, the gather, the regather, the gather step, the two permitted steps, and a “courtesy shuffle” of up to four feet in any direction, provided the player looks like he knows where he’s going. Officials will continue to begin counting steps whenever they personally feel ready to begin counting steps.
To help teams adjust, the league distributed a 41-page instructional diagram titled Where The Feet Go, which several head coaches reported they were unable to finish before tipoff.
“Basically, if you have the ball and you’re moving, there’s probably a gather happening somewhere,” said Pruitt, gesturing vaguely at a whiteboard covered in footprints, arrows, and one drawing of a man falling down a flight of stairs. “And if there isn’t, there will be.”
The announcement drew immediate concern from the online community of fans who have spent years posting slowed-down clips with red circles drawn around players’ feet.
“I’ve been doing frame-by-frame travel breakdowns since 2014,” said Kevin Marsh, 33, of Columbus, Ohio, whose account has 211 followers. “Now I need a second circle. Maybe a third. I don’t even know what color the regather circle is supposed to be.”
Retired players were similarly divided. “Back in my day, you got two steps, and you were grateful for them,” said one former All-Star, who then took five steps toward his car without dribbling anything.
The rule will not apply retroactively, meaning Minnesota’s 25-point win over the Heat stands. Miami officials, whose team shot 8-for-33 from three, released a brief statement asking whether any additional steps were available for that.
Commissioner Adam Silver could not be reached for comment, as aides said he was still gathering his statement.
League sources said the competition committee has already opened preliminary talks on several follow-up measures, including a “pre-gather” allowing players to gather their thoughts before receiving the ball, a “post-shot regather” for players who wish to take a few steps after shooting to process what just happened, and a “gather amnesty” period during the final two minutes of any nationally televised game.
At press time, Ball was reportedly still backing up toward the three-point line and had crossed into Fort Lauderdale.
By DeMarcus “Showtime” Paxton, NBA Correspondent “I’ve been on the floor. I know what it takes. Briefly.”
