Euro Step

The Euro Step, or also called as the Long Lateral and the Two-Step, is a term used in basketball, where the offensive player dribbles while taking a one-step direction and shifting to another direction on their second step. This is intended to confuse the opponent and attempt to shoot the basket. According to the New York Times, this move is crafty and deceiving and it might be closer to a traveling violation to those unfamiliar with the move.

Euro Step is not a violation, although some people who have less basketball background might interpret this as a traveling violation. In traveling, the player only steps without dribbling the ball, while the Euro Step is shifting from one direction to another using 2 steps.

As mentioned, this movement can easily be done in two steps. The second step has to be in the opposite direction of the first step, so the defensive player can easily adjust their body to position for a basket shoot. While taking these steps, the player has to dribble the ball, so it will not be counted as a traveling violation. Only that the player has to be careful when executing this step because it will be counted as foul if the officials count this as foul.