when ESPN came along around 1979-80, the game was bastardized by SportsCenter which wanted more dunking.
traveling, double dribble, palming, were all effectively stricken from the rules, because the biggest most athletic guys were all far more prone to travel, double dribble, palm, the ball.
then they added that beyond ridiculous no defense circle under the basket, which has to be one of the worst and most dangerous rules in all of sport.
being more liberal with palming was needed, but not near as liberal as it's gotten.
as for the amount of traveling and double dribble that goes on now, it's beyond ridiculous.
all to benefit the bigger more athletic less skilled player, at the expense of the more skilled better ball handler, so we could have more dunking for sports center.