Karl Malone

Rule 10, Section XIV, Part 2: A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.

This is the beginning of the rule for traveling, which every basketball player knows. Yet for the last few years, NBA players have deviated further and further from it. Every time I watch a player jump stop in the lane they move their feet like they are auditioning for an LMFAO video. Who can we point the finger at for jumpstarting this movement? Europeans and Karl Malone.

Don’t get me wrong, European players have been great for the game. But what they have brought to NBA locker rooms, other than secondhand smoke and showerless post-game rituals, is the Euro Step. This awkward, lunging two-step is a move that is now in every NBA player’s repertoire thanks to the likes of Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Dirk Nowitzki. It is completely legal, it just took NBA officials some time to adjust to what initially could be perceived as a travel. This opened the door for players to push the limit of what is now loosely interpreted as “two steps.” LeBron James is the poster boy for taking extra steps and is showing no signs of stopping. Letting LeBron take three lengthy strides while driving to the cup is more unnecessary than Greg Oden taking Enzyte. I won’t say LeBron is totally at fault because it’s on the referees to make the calls. However, I feel completely comfortable blaming Malone.

Malone switched his pivot foot more often than Eddie Murphy switched roles in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. We all remember his patented “move” where he would jab step with both feet to clear space for his jumper. Referees never called him for traveling, and so other players started emulating him. I just wish more players made videos like this.

I understand it is tough for officials to watch the feet of the player when they stop on a dime, but it is their job to enforce the rules. This offseason, officials need to put a strong emphasis on dragging pivot feet and extra steps on drives to the hoop. Two seasons ago they cracked down on back talk by handing out technicals so callously you would think they were on the set with Oprah. Next season I’d like them to do the same for traveling. For the first few weeks of the season players will give referees the I’ve-never-made-a-mistake-in-my-life face, but it will subside and basketball will go on as it should – no more than two steps at a time.