NBA New Rule on Flopping

A “flop” in the NBA is a basketball player’s attempt to either trick referees into calling undeserved fouls or dupe fans into thinking referees missed a foul call by exaggerating the effect of an opposing player’s contact on the first player. In other words, a player’s physical reaction doesn’t match the contact they received from an opposing player. For example, a player has committed a flop when he falls on the floor after receiving minimal contact from an opposing player.

According to the NBA and ESPN, players will be punished for flopping starting this 2012-13 season. The NBA will fine players in increments of $5,000 from the second violation on (first violation will result in a warning from the NBA) with $30,000 in fines by the fifth violation. The League will determine a reasonable punishment including an increased fine and/or suspension for players who commit six or more flopping violations. Penalization for flopping during the post-season will be determined at a later date.

Although this new rule will hopefully lessen the amount of flopping situations in future basketball, especially since it was quite prevalent in the 2011-12 season, the NBA has only put a value on flopping—it hasn’t actually eliminated the unsportsmanlike conduct. That is, if it’s even possible to create a system or set of rules to eliminate flopping.

It looks as if players like LeBron James, Blake Griffin, Derek Fisher and Paul Pierce are going to have to be more careful from now on. Want to see something hilarious? Check out NBA Worst Flops of All Time.

Is there another way to curb flopping in the NBA?