Basketball Rules: Can a Player Pass to Themselves?

Question
I know there is no such thing as self pass in the books, but what if the player passes the ball to himself.. for example, the player stops dribbling and passes the ball over the head of the defender and runs and catches the ball, can he catch it or catch it and dribble again?

Answer
Hi Mike,

The answer to your question is no the player cannot do that. once a player makes a legitimate pass attempt, he/she cannot be the first player to touch the ball again. In a situation where a player "loses the handle" on the ball, or fumbles it, he/she can re-gain possession of the ball and even dribble again.

Thanks for the question.