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What happens when a basketball player takes too many steps without dribbling?
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Basketball
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls leaping into the air during the slam-dunk competition at NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, February 6, 1988.
When a basketball player takes an excessive number of steps while holding the ball, it is called traveling (or walking with the ball). This is a violation of the rules, which generally limit a player to two steps while in possession of the ball.
The penalty for this infraction is a loss of possession, meaning the opposing team is awarded the ball to throw in from the sideline.1