Is The James Harden Step Back REALLY A Travel? Full Breakdown

There's a ton of controversy about James Harden's signature step back and whether it's a travel or not.

In this breakdown video you'll see how he typically does this basketball move, and what the rules are regarding everything he does, step by step.

You'll see whether it's a travel or if it's completely legal...

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[drewbewho]

Wise man once said: A journey begins with a single step. James Harden retorted: No man, a Journey begins with a thousand zero steps.

[ThriveandRiseMen]

Even if I did this against my friends they would say it’s a travel

[idkijs]

The fact that this much explanation is needed makes it even more ridiculous

[nissansx]

James Harden doesn't travel with that move, he has a journey lol

[Millicente]

It feels like his entire offense is centered around exploiting rules. His step back, his foul draws. Like I get it, use what you can to your advantage but I never liked people who did that type of thing. It bothers me even more because he’s so good to begin with without resorting to those things

[zhixiangren]

Great explanation! Basically, Harden exploits the rule that makes most of the 2-step layup legal. Without 0 step rule, all those fast-break dunks probably will be travel

[KerrariRL]

Harden doesn’t take advantage of the 0 step. He uses the -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 step back

[worldz]

No matter how many extra steps the NBA allows, players travel all the time and in front of refs. The refs have gotten worse over time too.

[Alsa]

"If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor."

[leep]

If he's on my team and does that, it's not a travel.. But! If he does that and ain't on my team then it's a travel. 😂

[voetbal]

Dumb AF.

"If the hand isn't under the ball or you don't have two hands on it then the steps aren't counted"

... ok someone tell Giannis to just palm the ball then run around with it.

[bubblediddy]

Most NBA players travel nowadays. They pick up their pivot foot all the time, establish a new puvot foot, and then travel again.

[ytfyummy]

Whos here after curry did Harden stepback ???

[sylicone]

Meanwhile in the future ... James Harden did a double stepback and still gotaway with it

[J]

This is great demo I am a dad of a six grader and share this with him as he plays basketball on his school team. I appreciate the effort you make in putting this video together. Thanks for all you do.

[MatthewMar]

It's not a travel in the NBA because the NBA uses the 0 step. High school & NCAA don't incorporate the 0 step in the definition of a travel. You should clarify that this is not currently a legal move in any league other than the NBA.

[mardiov]

It's only legal if Harden does it.

[MarkSmith-gxwp]

But, this zero step was implemented in the NBA in 2009, so I can see why people can see it as a travel. It's not a travel.in the NBA because they altered the rules. But, in basketball it is a travel.

[COOLSAUCE]

It's not a travel, USUALLY..
But there are times he has travelled, and the refs missed it

[natashasensha]

He protecc
He attacc
But most importantly
He hit da step bacc