How the NBA's Gather Step Works Explainer
The NBA's gather is the moment a player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or otherwise end the dribble. The legal step count begins after that control is established. A foot already on the floor when the gather occurs is commonly called the gather or zero step.
A moving player who gathers may then take two legal steps to stop, pass, or shoot. The first step occurs when one or both feet touch after the gather; the second occurs when the other foot touches or both feet land together. The player must release the ball before a prohibited additional step.
Determining the gather is the difficult part. A hand contacting the ball is not always control, especially during an active dribble. Officials watch whether the player has placed a hand under the ball, brought it to rest, held it with two hands, or otherwise demonstrated that the dribble has ended.
This definition explains why some long-looking drives are legal. Slow motion may show a plant before control, followed by two counted steps. The rule does not grant three steps; it separates the final dribble action from the steps taken after the player has gathered the ball.
No. It is a foot contact that occurs as control is established, before the two-step count begins.
Control sufficient to hold, pass, shoot, change hands, or bring the ball to rest ends the dribble.
Officials must judge the exact instant control begins while the player and ball are moving quickly.
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