Why NBA Refs Miss Obvious Travels: The Athletic Challenge No One Talks About
BBALLBREAKDOWNOctober 30, 20250:435.0K views
Basketball
Here's something most fans don't think about when they complain about missed travel calls. I was filming with NBA refs recently and they opened my eyes to this reality: these officials have to sprint alongside world-class athletes while processing split-second decisions. Picture being the trail ref when there's a sudden turnover - you're running backwards at full speed or sideways with your head turned, trying not to get run over by guys like Giannis, all while determining if someone took 3 steps instead of 2. That's incredibly difficult. For close calls like that Giannis play, refs need to be 100% certain before making the call. When you're racing down court with the best athletes on the planet, that certainty becomes a lot harder to achieve.