Ryne at Odenized grabbed the video of this play from the Cavs' loss to the Wizards, a play that looks to stretch the boundaries of the basketball rule book. It's LeBron James picking up his dribble, then doing a "hop" into a defender, resulting in a blocking call on the Wizards. Reggie Miller claims this is a new rule put in just for LeBron, but I'm not so sure.
While at first glance this appears to be a questionable play by LeBron, the reality is it's been going on for years. It's commonly referred to as a "jump stop," though the NBA rule book does not use this specific terminology. It's a legal play alright, and an excerpt from NBA.com's Misunderstood Rules section on traveling sums it up like this:
When ending his dribble a player may use a two count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting ... If a player jumps off one foot on the count of one he may land with both feet simultaneously for count two. In this situation, the player may not pivot with either foot and if one or both feet leave the floor the ball must be released before either return to the floor.
Translation: LeBron's "hop" is a perfectly legal move, as long as after he jumps he lands with both feet simultaneously (as in the above clip), and then releases the ball (in a shot or a pass) before he comes down from his next jump. The move I'd like to see called a foul is the LeBron James charge, where he simply lowers his head and drives directly into a defender. Now that should be called the LeBron Rule, because he seemingly gets away with it on a nightly basis.





















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-14-2008 @ 12:56AM
Feruw said...
When D-Wade was healthier he had a similar move but would jump with his back moving toward the hoop, into a defender and would wildly try and throw up a blind lay up. He pulled it on Detroit in the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals. The shot fell so it looked cool but in reality he had actually taken more steps and then charged with no intent on a real shot and had it fall through.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 1:23AM
Lakergregg said...
Its what Chick Hearn termed "the bunny hop in the pea patch."
RIP Chickie baby.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 1:25AM
TD said...
Are you just now realizing certain "superstar" players get away with stuff like that or have you just started watching the NBA?
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 2:20AM
patrick said...
they teach 10-year-olds the jump stop the first day they start playing. as long as both feet land at the same time, it's completely legal. is reggie serious?
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 2:24AM
Ryne Nelson said...
Pat, Reggie is definitely serious and definitely never jump stopped in his career. LeBron looks silly doing this because he once again just bowls into the defender with a reckless abandon.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 6:53AM
grover said...
It may be legal, but it just looks WRONG.
The implication seems to be that I can just pick up the ball and jump into the defender at any time. If his feet aren't set, then he's guilty of a blocking foul. Ridiculous.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 7:11PM
Ryan said...
I watch every Cavs game and I'm here to tell you that Lebron does not get away with much, In fact he doesn't get the same calls that Kobe gets for the simple fact that he is bigger and stronger than 90% of the league. Just because smaller, weaker players "bounce" off of him doesn't mean it's not a foul. Believe me he gets called for plenty of charges too. At least once or twice a game.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 11:34AM
joaozinho22 said...
travel. both your feet can't leave the ground at the same time if you have a running start and your feet are staggered front to back. This play that Lebron and D-Wade are notorious for is a travel. Also, When the offensive player is that out of control and wreckless and the defender is set, it should be a charge. It is because of this wreckless playing style that D-Wade is so beat up and will be sitting out the remainder of the season. Wade needs to take lessons from Iverson on how to drive to the basket, draw the contact, and bounce off the defender, setting himself up for an opportunity to still be in control enough to make the shot instead of slamming into the defender at full throttle.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 11:26AM
frank said...
Lebron is not all that;The Cavs organization really messed up for Lebron with such a roster , big Ben is on his way out and Hughes is playing with Chicago and Z (7"3) with a soft touch maybe out for the season ? NOT they will ( Cavs) lucky if they pass the 1st round at least Kobe has a much better chance( realistic) to go all the way to the finals.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 11:35AM
joaozinho22 said...
This running jump step is far different from the legal jump step of basketball. When you perform a jump step your feet are usually about shoulder width apart with your feet parallel to your shoulders. It is typically performed at slow speeds in the paint after getting a rebound to reposition oneself to get a good look at the basket. No coach will teach you to use it in a situation such as Lebron's when he is dribbling at full speed and takes a running jump and then another step.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 11:35AM
joaozinho22 said...
Now they just need to address the step through travel that Nash and Ginoboli do in every game they play. These two players pick up the dribble to step through two defenders. Then they take two more steps after stepping through the defenders. If you watch basketball, you know what I am talking about. They should call it the "Ginoboli two step".
Travel
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 12:38PM
sal cunningham said...
Help me please. Does traveling constitute taking five steps or six? The all time classic was Patrick Ewing.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 12:57PM
Jay said...
Nobody in the NBA is called for traveling anymore unless they take at least five steps. That's obvious to everybody!!
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 6:46PM
WhoShotCharlie said...
Brett Edwards. fyi...The reason Lebron James lowers his head when he drives to the basket is because he gets mauled everytime he touches the ball. I have been watching and playing basketball since the 70's and I have never seen a player get mauled and hacked as much as Lebron does. Usually the refs just stand there and watch, while the other team hacks and mauls him.
Reply
3-15-2008 @ 1:10AM
Phil C said...
you have to catch the ball in the air in the hop... so take the dribble before you leave both feet.
Reply
3-15-2008 @ 9:41AM
woleary717 said...
Lebron James 's " rule "; that is not general enough, it should be called the " black " rule. Double standards against white basketball players on all levels of play, including the NBA about what constitutes a " travel " infraction. There is an "Affirmative Action"(just like all levels of Western society) non-whistle call on blacks while whites are given " zero " tolerance. Believe me, if any group needs an " Affirmative Action " non-whistle it is the white player not vice versa.
Reply
3-15-2008 @ 6:07PM
Brian said...
A couple of things:
1.) Look at the above play carefully. That should have been a travel AND a charge. The defender was already in position. If he had come from another spot off the wing and had run into King James, it would have been a block. Nope, ol' LeBron hopped his happy @%$ through the man and got VIP treatment.
2.) Him getting away with basketball murder is not suprising. Look at Dwayne Wade (Mr. Charge himself), Shaquille O'Neal (Mr. 3 Seconds), Dikembe Mutombo (throw them 'bows!) and a few others. Rule have always been bent to favor superstars. Sometimes, the league has even changed certain rules because stars were hindered. (example: after the Pistons hand checked the Lakers into submission in five games in the '04 finals, the league eliminated hand checking entirely. We can't have lowly defensive teams like Detroit beating up on Billy Bad @%$ teams like the Lakers now, can we?)
It is what it is.
Reply
3-16-2008 @ 12:04AM
Scott said...
Watch the tape...LeBron is driving and he does go off of one foot..he is in the air...the defender is not in position when Lebron went into the air...before LeBron can completely come back down to the court - whether he was attempting a jump stop or not - he collides with the defender. I hate to tell you - that is a block. It doesn't matter if LeBron was going up for a jump stop or a dunk...once a player leaves the floor it is a block if the defender moves into position where he is going to land while the offensive player is in the air. That has nothing to do with a "LeBron rule" that is they way the rules are. To quote the rules: "A player is never permitted to move into the path of an opponent after the opponent has jumped into the air."(section II,A2b) and "A defensive player shall not be permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has picked up the ball in an effort to either pass or shoot. If contact occurs on this play, and it is anything but negligible and/or incidental, a blocking foul shall be called on the defensive player...The offensive player remains a shooter until he has regained a normal playing position on the floor. " (section II, C)
If the defender had not slid into position while LeBron was in the air, then LeBron could have completed a jump stop, a pass, or possibly thrown up a shot depending on what he was trying to do - so it IS a BLOCKING FOUL. What if LeBron jumped from the foul line to dunk the ball and while he was in the air a guy moved under him and took him out? That is a BLOCKING FOUL - and probably a flagrant 2 as well. Just because he is not going up for a dunk does not change that a defensive player has to have position prior to an offensive player going into the air to make a move. And if the defensive guy was already set then it was a charge. He was not close to being in position. If AOL needs someone to replace Bret Edwards, would someone please let me know?
Reply
3-24-2008 @ 11:34AM
thereelmnm said...
he only took 1 step(if that) before the whistle blew, not to mention that once he goes up, the defender cannot move into his path(which he did) so really it's just a straight up blocking foul...sorry haters
Reply