The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) said Monday that a traveling call against Houston Rockets superstar James Harden during last Friday’s preseason victory in Miami was incorrect.
In the explanation on their official @OfficialNBARefs Twitter account, the NBRA stated why the move was legal and how the call was missed in a response to ESPN‘s Mark Jones.
“He gathers with his right foot on the floor, then takes a step with his left and then right, for two steps after the gather,” the tweet reads, referring to Harden’s move in the Miami game. “You’re right Mark, traveling should not have been called.”
The move in question can be seen here:
“The trail official makes this call from behind the play, and he doesn’t have an open look at when the gather occurs,” the NBRA wrote in explaining how the call was missed.
Despite the officiating error, which Harden immediately objected to and took away a basket, the NBA’s 2018 Most Valuable Player (MVP) still had an outstanding game. The 30-year-old guard scored 44 points (50% on 16 three-point attempts) in 34 minutes while also posting seven assists, five steals, and five rebounds.
Harden and the Rockets begin 2019-20 regular season play at home on Thursday versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
