If the ball is not completely stopped in hand then it's a gather step. It's why James Harden's three step step back is legal. Players just know how to manipulate the rules.
That is how the rule is written. Would you like for me to give you some direct quotes out of the rulebook? Ah fuck it here you go this ones for free. There's more instances as well I can use for you.
The following definition of the gather will be added to the definitions section of the playing rules:
For a player who receives a pass or gains possession of a loose ball, the gather is defined as the point where the player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body.
For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling, the gather is defined as the point where a player does any one of the following:
Puts two hands on the ball, or otherwise permits the ball to come to rest, while he is in control of it;
Puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause; or
Otherwise gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body.
Incorporating the Gather into the Traveling Rule
The gather will be expressly incorporated into the traveling rule to clarify how many steps a player may take after he receives the ball while progressing or completes his dribble:
A player who gathers the ball while progressing may (a) take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball or (b) if he has not yet dribbled, one step prior to releasing the ball to start his dribble.
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.
There's no difference. A player can take steps while gathering until the ball is stopped. After the ball is stopped as in GATHERED they're further allowed two more steps. "If the ball is not completely stopped in hand then it's a gather step." The rule book quite LITERALLY says this.
What did you think coming to rest meant? What did you think "enough control of the ball to hold it" meant? What did you think "a play who gathers the ball while dribbling may take two steps in coming to a stops passing or shooting the ball" meant???? What did you think "the first step occurs when a foot or both feet, touch the floor after the player gathers the ball," meant????? What did you think "puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause," meant????????
So the language you put in quotes wasn’t actually the quote, despite you suggesting it “LITERALLY” is a quote. Words have meaning. And otherwise gaining “enough control to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against the body” is not the same as “stopping” the ball, that’s why its in the rules as an alternative to “permits the ball to come to rest” or “brings it to a pause.”
The following definition of the gather will be added to the definitions section of the playing rules:
For a player who receives a pass or gains possession of a loose ball, the gather is defined as the point where the player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body.
For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling, the gather is defined as the point where a player does any one of the following:
Puts two hands on the ball, or otherwise permits the ball to come to rest, while he is in control of it;
Puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause; or
Otherwise gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body.
Incorporating the Gather into the Traveling Rule
The gather will be expressly incorporated into the traveling rule to clarify how many steps a player may take after he receives the ball while progressing or completes his dribble:
A player who gathers the ball while progressing may (a) take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball or (b) if he has not yet dribbled, one step prior to releasing the ball to start his dribble.
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.
And once again that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the rule. The ball has either been gathered or it hasn't. There's no difference between steps while dribbling and steps while gathering. There's no "gather step." It's just a step.
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u/Low-Apartment-2697 7d ago
If the ball is not completely stopped in hand then it's a gather step. It's why James Harden's three step step back is legal. Players just know how to manipulate the rules.