The NBA has had a flopping issue for a long time.
Players falling to the ground, their bodies thrashing and writhing “in pain” after a slight Lance Stephenson-type kiss/blow gently brushed or completely missed, yet obviously devastated their muscular frames.
It was becoming akin to soccer, where many whiffed tackles and finger-pointing would result in ridiculous displays of faked shin and eye injuries with delayed reactions that would make TV tape delays proud.
But now the NBA is finally taking action against these Oscar-worthy performers and performances.
According to SVP of referee development Monty McCutchen, flopping will be called as a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul beginning this season.
McCutchen revealed the penalty while discussing two new rule changes: penalizing players for egregious flopping and awarding a second coach’s challenge. They are also working on a stronger definition of what a “rip through” foul against the defense will be.
To address flopping referees will utilize the STEM method- Secondary Theatrical Exaggerated Movements.
Secondary refers to the action after the alleged contact. Theatrical is basically the antics that follow, i.e. writhing on the floor and Exaggerated Movements consist of the considerable distance traveled by a flopping player, excessive flailing of limbs and potential to have injured another player as a result of flopping.
It’s something the league says doesn’t occur a lot, but is definitely noticeable during a game, so they want to deter the behavior this season.
“The only thing that’s changed is that there’s a very small percentage of these that we’re now going to penalize,” said McCutchen. “We’re doing a good job of non-calling these now. All we’re adding is a layer at the top (where) we really want to get rid of these overt actions.”
The NBA had a flopping rule in place last season, but it’s determined to purge the practice this season. To aid in that effort, the league is instituting these rule changes as well:
If a flopping call is missed during a game but viewed later, the player will be fined $2,000.
Though it takes two unsportsmanlike technicals to be ejected, the flopping call does not count toward a possible ejection as it’s a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul.
Lastly, if a player is called for an unsportsmanlike technical foul while a flopping call is made during the same play by another player, the two techs offset one another.
So LeBron, Chris Paul, Joe Embiid, James Harden and others who have delivered Lance Stephenson, Academy Award-deserving performances, watch out. Your massive wallets could be a little lighter this season.
