Ok so I was playing basketball with a bunch of friends and one of them shoots an airball. After shooting the air ball he picks it up without anyone touching the ball and lays it in. We say it's a travel but he says that as long as the ball is going towards the basket, you're allowed to pick it up after missing even if no one touches it. He said it's a new rule the NBA enforced last year or something. I've been looking for it but can't find it any where. Help anyone?
Definitely no reward for shooting an airball. Once the ball leaves your possession in an upward direction it either touches another player or touches some part of the basket before you can touch it again. Otherwise, turnover.
What if it hits the ref, but not the basket? What if the player and ball never touched the ground? What if... [video=youtube;VqzUjdChqEQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqzUjdChqEQ[/video]
Bigger question here, the kid who took advantage of this was the only one saying that the NBA changed the rules and somehow managed to override the opinions of the "bunch of friends" there. How do you let this happen?
Well he's 24 and used to play college ball and of course everyone respects him for that. We all argued about it for like 10 minutes and we just let it go. There were around 15 guys there too and him and some other guy were the only 2 that "supposedly" heard the rule. Whatever not that big of a deal just wanted to make sure. Throwing him to the ground when he goes up for a layup will teach him a lesson to make calls like that
Looks to me based on the OP that in the scenario described, the ball hit the ground. If that's right, and HCP's post is accurate, then he's OK. So then, that's the question--is an airball fair game after it hits the ground?
The rule was changed. If the ref's rule that the shot was a real and valid shot attempt, you can catch your own airball.
Not according to the 2009-2010 NBA rulebook. Rule No. 10 - Violations. Section XIII - Traveling. Item f. (page 37) /Thread