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LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves' 2026-27 campaign began with a bang after a dominant 131-106 rout of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat in their season-opener.
Ball's highly-anticipated debut with the franchise largely went off without a hitch, as his contributions and Edwards' 45-point explosion sent Miami back to the drawing board.
However, one questionable play from the former's 21-point, 6-assist night stuck out like a sore thumb to the basketball world.
With the game against Miami knotted at 39 and 8:19 left to play in the second quarter, Ball took a noticeably long route to a fading right wing three-pointer that dropped through the net, one that caught the eye of fans, media members, and NBA referees alike on social media.
In response to a clip of the alleged travel shared by SportsCenter on X, the Official Account for NBA Referees weighed in and confirmed everyone's suspicions about Ball's step count prior to the three-point hit.
"For everyone asking, 'how is this legal?' It’s not! He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels," the account shared Thursday morning.
Though Ball's controversial play speaks to a larger issue with a lack of correct traveling calls made in the modern NBA, it also provides a snapshot of how creative trends in footwork have led to more freedom of movement for offensive players than ever before.
The 2022 All-Star and ex-Charlotte Hornets floor general has played a role in this change over the past few years, as he possesses some of the most unpredictable handles and creative all-around offensive play-styles in the league today, but he may have gone a bit too far with his moves on opening night. Still, Minnesota may be willing to let a few of those miscues slide once or twice a game if it leads to an outcome similar to that of their dominant opening night performance.
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