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NBA officials have re-emphasized traveling violations in recent years, but comprehensive oversight remains elusive.
Take the officiating crew of Josh Tiven, Jacyn Goble and Brandon Schwab, who missed what fans are describing as the most egregious travel in league history on Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
Naturally the play involved 6-foot-11 Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose long strides can make things difficult for officials trying to gauge just how many steps he's taken.
But during the Bucks’ win over the visiting New York Knicks, Antetokounmpo got away with more than an extra step. Catching the ball just over mid court during the first quarter, Antetokounmpo needed only one dribble to get into the lane and hit a running bank shot of the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns.
‘This legitimately might be the worst travel I have ever seen in my entire life,’ one fan moaned.
Another claimed: ‘Giannis walked across the state of Wisconsin without a travel call.’
Antetokounmpo appeared to take five or six steps before going up with the shot
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a game-high 37 points in the 121-111 Milwaukee win
NBC announcers and former NBA guards Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford were left stunned.
‘That’s just one dribble right here,’ Crawford said.
‘We could have played until we were 50 if we get that runway, Jamal,’ Miller responded.
In total, Antetokounmpo took five steps, which probably equates to something like 10 or 12 for a shorter person.
‘It would take Giannis fewer steps to walk back to Greece,’ one fan said of the Athens native.
Technically a player is allowed two steps after gathering the ball, which is what Antetokounmpo did, but only after shuffling his feet as he picked up his dribble.
Some fans couldn’t help but link the non-whistle to the NBA’s ongoing gambling scandal.
‘Referee just watching man,’ one fan wrote. ‘I know the ref gambling.’
For what it’s worth, Antetokounmpo would be whistled for traveling later in the period.
He finished with a game-high 37 points in the 121-111 win as the Bucks improved to 3-1. The Knicks, meanwhile, fell to 2-2
