
In basketball, carrying, also known as palming, is a ball-handling violation. The penalty for carrying is the same as for other violations: possession of the ball is given to the opposing team, and it is counted as a turnover. The rule against carrying intends to create a period of continuous motion that defines possession of the ball. The dribbler is always the focus of the game as they control the ball and can choose to pass, dribble, or shoot. However, the rules around carrying have evolved over time, and there is debate and controversy regarding the exact nature of the rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Carrying is a ball-handling violation in basketball. |
| Rules | A player who is dribbling may not put any part of their hand under the ball and carry it from one point to another or bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again. |
| Penalty | Possession of the ball is given to the opposing team. This is counted as a turnover of the ball. |
| Techniques | The 'pocket dribble' is a technique that blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying. |
| History | The rules about carrying have evolved over time. The earliest basketball rules included the principle that "A player cannot run with the ball". |
| Enforcement | The NBA has been stricter about enforcing carrying rules since late 2022. |
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What You'll Learn
- Carrying, or palming, is a ball-handling violation
- The penalty for carrying is that possession of the ball is given to the opposing team
- The dribbler is always the focus of the game as they control the ball
- The rules about carrying have evolved over time
- The pocket dribble blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying

Carrying, or palming, is a ball-handling violation
The National Basketball Association Rule No. 10 (Section II (d)) states:
> "A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again."
The rule intends to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by bending the rules of dribbling. A carry can happen very quickly, so quickly that referees, players, and fans might miss it entirely. The "pocket dribble," frequently used by NBA players, blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying. In this move, the player brings their hand close to their hip, almost behind the ball. This looks like a carry to an untrained eye because the ball seems to momentarily rest, but the ball never completely stops moving.
The rules about carrying have evolved over time. The earliest basketball rules included the principle that "a player cannot run with the ball." For a long time, players did not move with the ball, and the game resembled modern netball. Over time, players found loopholes, such as "passing to themselves," which evolved into smaller and smaller passes, eventually becoming dribbling.
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The penalty for carrying is that possession of the ball is given to the opposing team
Carrying, or palming, is a ball-handling violation in basketball. The penalty for carrying is that possession of the ball is given to the opposing team, which counts as a turnover. This rule intends to create a period of continuous motion that defines possession of the ball. By having possession, the person dribbling is on "offense". The rules expect them to make a tactical decision about their next course of action, and dribbling keeps the ball in a hard-to-defend state. The dribbler is always the focus of the game as they control the scoring asset and can choose to pass, dribble more, or shoot. This is known as a "triple threat" because defenders must be aware of every possibility.
A carry happens when a player dribbling the ball lets their hand slide underneath it, briefly pausing the dribble before resuming. This prevents the ball from bouncing and gives the player unfair control over it. The National Basketball Association Rule No. 10 (Section II (d)) states, "A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again."
The "pocket dribble," frequently used by NBA players like Kyrie Irving, blurs the lines between legal dribbling skills and carrying. In this move, the player brings their hand close to their hip, almost behind the ball. This looks like a carry to an untrained eye because the ball seems to momentarily rest. However, the ball never completely stops moving, and NBA referees are trained to spot even the slightest bob of the ball.
The rules about carrying have evolved over time. The earliest basketball rules, by Dr. James Naismith, included the principle that "a player cannot run with the ball." While players were allowed to pass the ball to themselves, this eventually evolved into the dribbling we see today. Since late 2022, the NBA has been much more strict about enforcing its carrying rules.
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The dribbler is always the focus of the game as they control the ball
In basketball, the dribbler is always the focus of the game as they control the ball. The player with the ball is on the "offense", and they must make tactical decisions about their next move. They can pass, dribble more, or shoot, which is known as a "triple threat". The defender must be aware of all these possibilities and react accordingly.
The rules around carrying in basketball have evolved over time. The earliest basketball rules, by Dr. James Naismith, included the principle that "a player cannot run with the ball". However, players soon found a loophole by "passing to themselves", which later evolved into dribbling. Today, carrying is a ball-handling violation in basketball. It occurs when a player dribbling the ball lets their hand slide underneath it, briefly pausing the dribble before resuming. This is also known as palming or pocket dribbling.
The National Basketball Association Rule No. 10 (Section II (d)) states:
> "A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again."
The penalty for carrying is the loss of possession of the ball, which is awarded to the opposing team. This is known as a turnover. While carrying is a violation, dribbling is subject to several rules that limit the ball handler's advantage. For example, a player who receives the ball while standing still may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot. They may then take two steps before shooting or passing the ball.
The interpretation of carrying can be subjective and controversial. NBA referees are trained to spot even the slightest bob of the ball, but the pocket dribble move, if executed correctly, does not cross the line into a violation. This has caused confusion and debate among fans, who believe skilled players are given more leeway.
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The rules about carrying have evolved over time
The rules about carrying in basketball have indeed evolved over time. The game's inventor, Dr. James Naismith, included five core principles in the earliest version of the rules, one of which stated that "a player cannot run with the ball." This rule was a precursor to the modern carrying rule, as it aimed to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by moving with the ball in their hand.
Over time, players discovered a loophole in this rule by "passing to themselves," which led to the development of dribbling. Initially, there were no specific rules for dribbling, but it was understood that players must not run with the ball and could only throw it. As the game evolved, Dr. Naismith created a full set of thirteen rules, which likely included more detailed guidelines for dribbling.
The carry rule, as it is known today, specifically prohibits players from putting their hand under the ball while dribbling, as this can give them an unfair advantage by making it easier to change direction. This rule has been a part of basketball since its inception, but the interpretation and enforcement of it have evolved. Early in the NBA, carrying calls were stricter, but as the game got faster, referees became more lenient, especially in professional leagues.
In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on enforcing the carrying rule, with the NBA taking a stricter approach since late 2022. This has led to increased scrutiny on ball-handling techniques and more emphasis on calling violations, even among star players. The "pocket dribble," a technique that blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying, has sparked debates among fans and players about what constitutes a carry.
While the interpretation and enforcement of the carrying rule have evolved, the fundamental principle remains the same: to ensure fair play and maintain the continuous motion of the game. The evolution of the rules about carrying reflects the ongoing efforts to adapt to the changing dynamics of the game and promote sportsmanship among players.
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The pocket dribble blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying
Carrying is a ball-handling violation in basketball, where a player momentarily pauses with their hand underneath the ball during a dribble. This is also known as palming. If a player carries the ball, possession is given to the opposing team, which is counted as a turnover. Carrying is a violation of National Basketball Association Rule No. 10 (Section II (d)), which states:
> "A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again."
The pocket dribble is a move frequently used by NBA players like Kyrie Irving, which involves bringing the hand close to the hip, almost behind the ball. This move blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying, as it looks like a carry to an untrained eye because the ball seems to momentarily rest. However, the ball never completely stops moving, and NBA referees are trained to spot even the slightest bob of the ball. Therefore, the pocket dribble, if executed correctly, is not a violation. Nonetheless, this move frequently causes confusion and arguments among fans, who believe that skilled players are allowed to get away with violations.
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Frequently asked questions
Carrying, also known as palming, is a ball-handling violation in basketball. It occurs when a player dribbling the ball lets their hand slide underneath it, briefly pausing the dribble before resuming. This rule intends to create a period of continuous motion that defines possession of the ball.
The penalty for carrying in basketball is that possession of the ball is given to the opposing team. This counts as a turnover of the ball.
Yes, carrying is still a rule in basketball. In fact, since late 2022, the NBA has been stricter about enforcing its carrying rules. However, the pocket dribble move, which involves bringing the hand close to the hip and almost behind the ball, has caused confusion as it blurs the lines between legal dribbling and carrying.









































