During a jump ball, does the ball become live when it is legally tapped?

The correct response is that the ball does not become live immediately upon a legal tap during a jump ball. In basketball rules, a jump ball situation means that the ball is not considered live until it has been legally touched by one of the jumpers and is either controlled by a player or has touched the ground. Until that moment, the play is still in a state of pause from the jump ball. Possession must be established for the ball to be considered live and in play.

This understanding aligns with the formal rules of the game, indicating that legal taps are necessary, but they alone do not bring the ball into play. Factors such as control or the ball hitting the ground must be present for the game to resume.