There is an “exception” to the 3 second rule that most people don’t understand. If you have been in the key for less than 3 seconds when you receive the ball, or if a player enters the key by dribbling the ball, then the 3 second count is suspended as long as the player is actively making a move to score a goal. If the player is in the key for longer than three seconds and does not shoot the ball and either dribbles back out of the key or passes the ball, then a 3 seconds violation should be called.

Unfortunately this “exception“ is not only not known by most fans, it’s also very subjective for the referees. My question is always that if a player has the ball and he is actively backing down the defender in order to gain a better position to shoot the ball, is that the same as “making a basketball move to score”? I suppose if he is dribbling the ball, then whether he is facing the basket or has his back to the basket, then maybe it shouldn’t be a violation? And then what about when he stops dribbling and pump fakes three times before actually shooting it? Those are situations that appear to be extremely subjective for the referee to make.

Here is the 3 second rule exception:

“An allowance is made to continue a count but suspend the 3 second violation ruling when, before 3 seconds, an offensive player receives the ball, starts to attempt to score by making a “basketball scoring move” (including dribbling to the basket). If the move is directly completed, no violation can occur. However, if the move is aborted (e.g. by a pass or by dribbling out the key), no exception applies and a violation will immediately be called.”

NCAA FIBA and NBA rules also make allowance for a player who, before 3 seconds, attempts to leave the restricted (NCAA and FIBA) or passes and immediately moves out of the lane (NBA).