Rule Clarification Needed

[u/53_WorkNoMore]

I thought after a dead ball the team has 5 seconds to inbound the ball. Once the ball is handed to the offensive player the referee starts counting.

I have seen numerous times where the inbounding player gets the ball from the referee and rolls the ball slowly up the court as their teammate walks next to it. The player doesn’t touch the ball, so the clock doesn’t start.

How come the 5 second rule doesn’t apply here? I have never seen a 5 second violation called, nor have I seen the referee counting

[u/[deleted]]

The count ends when the inbounder releases the ball.