During a legal screen, what must the screener avoid?

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A legal screen is an essential part of basketball where an offensive player tries to create space for a teammate by positioning themselves in front of a defender. The fundamental rule that governs the legality of this screen is that the screener must not make contact with the defender. Therefore, avoiding contact with the defender is crucial to ensure that the screen is legal. If contact does occur, it can result in an offensive foul being called, which would negatively impact the offensive team.

The other options involve actions that may not necessarily lead to an illegal screen. Holding the ball is unrelated to the act of screening itself; it pertains more to ball-handling. Moving into the path of the defender could potentially lead to a legal screen if done properly, as it is part of creating space. Finally, standing within the three-point line does not have any direct relevance to the legal aspect of screening; a screen can legally occur both inside and outside the three-point line. Thus, steering clear of contact is key to executing a legal screen.