League exec says Beal traveled despite NBA referees' defense of non-call

The NBA's vice president of referee development disagrees with the National Basketball Referees Association's defense of Bradley Beal's apparent traveling violation Monday against the Detroit Pistons.

Monty McCutchen told ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Tuesday that Beal should have been called for traveling during the fourth quarter of the Washington Wizards' 121-112 loss at Little Caesars Arena. This comes after the NBRA cited the "fumble" rule as the basis for the referees' decision not to blow the whistle.

"While in some cases a fumble at the end of a dribble on the gather can be retrieved, that is not what happened on this play," said McCutchen.

"Bradley Beal gathers the ball and takes two steps, but then loses control of the ball. Once he has lost control after taking the two steps, he must regain control and pass or shoot before taking another step in order to be legal. Since he does not regain control until another step, the play is a travel."

McCutchen worked as an official for over 25 years and has been in his current position since 2017.