Has anyone ever taken 5 steps between dribbles...

[cantthinkofanything]

I've taken like a billion steps since my last dribble.

, I dribble as soon as I zip my fly. I don't even get one step in.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

If you can't see 4 steps in either of those first 2 videos, I really don't know what to say.

Ah... I gots to EDJICATE...

The Steve Francis one.. watch the last replay (from the baseline camera in slo mo). He catches the ball as he's taking a step, which doesn't count. He then takes 2 steps and dribbles (actually just bounces the ball out in front of him but that counts as a dribble) on the 3rd step. That's where the travel should have been called but it's nowhere near four steps. At most it's one extra little step which is what I said originally, people get away with that extra little shuffle on the way to the basket all the time. What happens after he bounces the ball is perfectly legal in any league.

The Josh Smith one is actually pretty similar which was my original call on it. Watch the last slo mo replay. He catches the ball, takes a step (which doesn't count), then takes two quick steps (which should have been one) and goes up for the dunk. Again, just one extra step, should have been called, but again that kind of thing is overlooked all the time, especially when the player gets no advantage over the defense for it (it was a clear path to the basket just like the Francis one).

Also realize that at that time, both these guys were near-All-Star types (I think they've both actually been in All-Star games IIRC). Refs just don't call one little extra step like that unless the player gets an advantage, against that class of player.

So bottom line:

(a) no four steps (not even close)
(b) not really that unusual even that it was a no-call

[YoMamaIsCallin]

I count 8 steps.
And then he complains about an an obvious foul.

Fantastic.

A pivot is not a step. Dude. Once again I need to break this down for those who don't really know what they're looking at.

OK here what happens:

1. Catches the ball.
2. Slides his right foot establishing his left as his pivot foot.
3. Slides his left foot. Travel! Switching pivot feet.
4. Pivots on his left foot.
5. Gets crowded, moves his left (new pivot) foot. Travel!
6. Faces up the defender, keeping his left foot as his (newly relocated) pivot foot.
7. Starts his drive, but moves his left foot before starting his dribble. Travel!
8. Gets doubled, stops and turns, tries to pass out but gets it stolen, fouls the stealer.

OK so there's three travels there not two like I said. But nothing like 4 or 5 steps. These were pivot foot violations. Not "taking steps between dribbles". Everything after he started his dribble was legal (but awful).

update: just realized the guy who posted this on YouTube annotated it with 6 purported travels. 3 of them are incorrect and were not traveling. That guy does not understand basketball.