Basketball Rules: Legal Passes & Self-Pass Violations Explained

Question
Player A rebounds, make a pass out of heavy traffic,  without dribbling.  ball touches no other player,and goes to no one, but bounces a few times on the floor.

Player A then runs several steps and picks up the ball. Is this a legal play, or a self pass. Thanks

Answer
Hi Ed,

This is a great question. The answer is it's a violation. Once you make a legitimate pass attempt, you cannot be the first to touch the ball again if it doesn't touch any other player or the basket. This is different than "Losing the Handle" on the ball in which you dribble the ball, fumble it, pick it back up and dribble again which is a legal play.  I hope that answered your question.


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