Throughout the NBA playoffs this year, a lot of attention has been given to the fact that players are still flopping, and the league hasn’t taken action the way it promised by fining players for flops.
Fines are a weak way to police flopping in the NBA, and the league may be fully aware of that fact, with Shams Charania of The Athletic reporting that flops could result in a technical foul being called, with a trial run possibly being implemented during the Summer League in July.
Sources: The NBA’s Competition Committee is discussing potential of in-game penalty for flops that would result in technical foul free throw. Trial is possible at Summer League in July.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 25, 2023
Of all the silly rule changes over the past few years, this one actually makes a lot of sense and could change things drastically, especially during the NBA playoffs when every single play matters.
Fining millionaires for flops after the fact was never going to do much other than expose said players for being a flopper, which hasn’t really done much at all.
However, an instant disciplinary action on the floor that can alter the outcome of games would definitely leave a lasting impact and prevent players from embellishing on the court to get calls.
The real question is whether flops will be reviewable in the moment and if it would take a coach’s challenge in order to get it done.
Regardless of how this is implemented, this seems like a step in the right direction for the NBA and something that will cause a lot of conversation next season if it becomes a rule and something used regularly to stop flopping in the league.
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