A double dribble is a violation that happens when a player ends a dribble and then starts dribbling again. The most common versions are picking up the ball with both hands and then bouncing it, or letting it rest in one hand before resuming. The team that commits it loses possession.
A double dribble means dribbling a second time after a dribble has ended. A dribble ends when a player catches the ball with both hands, lets it rest in his hands, shoots, or passes. The penalty is a turnover, and the other team gets the ball for a throw-in.
What is a double dribble?
In basketball, a dribble is the movement of the ball by a player in control of it who throws or taps it to the floor. Every dribble has to end at some point, because a player cannot bounce the ball forever. When a player stops, he has two legal choices: pass or shoot. What he cannot do is start a new dribble right away. That second dribble is the double dribble.
The name is a little misleading. Bouncing the ball many times in a row is one long dribble and is perfectly legal. The violation is about the restart, not the number of bounces.
What ends a dribble
The NBA rulebook lists the moments when a dribble is over. Once any of these happens, the player is not allowed to dribble again unless the ball is knocked loose or bounces away from him in one of the ways covered further down:
- He touches the ball with both hands at the same time.
- He lets the ball come to rest while he still has control of it.
- He tries for a field goal.
- He throws a pass.
- He touches the ball more than once before it hits the floor.
- He loses control of the ball, or the ball becomes dead.
The first two are the ones that cause most double dribbles. A tired ball handler often grabs the ball with both hands to protect it, then realizes there is no pass and bounces it again. That is a violation, even if the whole thing took less than a second.
Double dribble or not? Common situations
Here is how the rule applies to six everyday plays:
| Play | Double dribble? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dribbles, catches the ball with two hands, then dribbles again | Yes | Catching with both hands ended the dribble |
| Dribbles, lets the ball rest in one hand, then bounces it again | Yes | The ball came to rest while he controlled it |
| Dribbles, picks up the ball, then passes or shoots | No | A pass or shot is always legal after a dribble ends (steps still matter for traveling) |
| A defender taps the ball away, and the dribbler recovers it and dribbles | No | An opponent touched the ball, which allows a new dribble |
| A shot hits the rim or backboard, and the shooter gets his own rebound and dribbles | No | A missed shot that touches the rim or backboard allows a new dribble |
| A pass or fumble is touched by another player, and the original player then dribbles | No | Another player touched the ball |
Notice the pattern in the “No” rows. A player may dribble again after he loses control because of a shot that touches the backboard or rim, a touch by an opponent, or a pass or fumble that touches the rim or backboard or another player. A defender tipping the ball away is the simplest case. It is also how a steal can begin.
Double dribble vs carrying vs traveling
These three calls are often mixed up because they all involve a ball handler who seems to be doing something odd with the ball. They are different rules:
- Double dribble: dribbling again after a dribble ended.
- Carrying (palming): putting a hand under the ball and carrying it from one point to another, or pausing the ball and then resuming the dribble.
- Traveling: moving the feet illegally while holding the ball, without dribbling it. The NBA rulebook says a player may not run with the ball without dribbling it.
A single play can break more than one of these. For example, a player who picks up the ball and takes extra steps has traveled, and if he then bounces it again, the double dribble would be the other problem.
What is the penalty?
A double dribble is a violation, and the penalty is loss of the ball. The offense turns it over, and the play counts as a turnover.
In the NBA, the ball goes to the opposing team on the sideline nearest the spot of the violation, but no closer to the baseline than the free-throw line extended. Under FIBA rules, the opponents get a throw-in from the spot nearest the violation. If you want to picture where that line sits, the court dimensions tool shows every line on an NBA or FIBA court.
How players avoid it
Coaches teach one habit above all: keep the dribble alive until you know what you will do next. A ball handler who stops too early is stuck with only two options, pass or shoot, and a defender can take both away.
- Pick up the ball only when a pass or shot is ready.
- Use the dribble to create space, then end it on purpose.
- If you are trapped and the dribble is gone, pivot and look for a teammate instead of bouncing the ball again.
- Keep your hand on top of the ball, not underneath it, to avoid a carrying call.
A double dribble is easiest to commit under pressure, when a trapped ball handler grabs the ball with both hands and panics.
Keep learning
- What is traveling in basketball?
- What is a turnover in basketball?
- What is the 8-second backcourt rule?
FAQ
Is it a double dribble to pick up the ball and then shoot?
No. Ending a dribble by shooting or passing is legal. The only thing to watch after picking up the ball is the footwork, because moving your feet too much is a traveling violation.
Is dribbling with two hands at the same time a double dribble?
Touching the ball with both hands at once ends the dribble. If the player then dribbles again, it is a violation. That is why the ball is bounced with one hand at a time.
Are the rules the same in FIBA games?
The idea is the same. Under FIBA Article 24, a player cannot dribble again after a dribble has ended unless he lost control through a shot, an opponent touching the ball, or a pass or fumble touched by another player. The main difference is the penalty spot, since FIBA uses the spot nearest the violation.
Sources
- NBA Official: Rule No. 4, Definitions
- NBA Official: Rule No. 10, Violations and Penalties
- FIBA: Official Basketball Rules 2026